Maximinus Thrax emerged from the provinces of Moesia, a region along the Danube River. Ancient sources offer conflicting accounts of his birth with Herodian describing him as Thracian in origin while the Historia Augusta claims he was born to a Gothic father and an Alanic mother.
Maximinus Thrax became Roman emperor in 235 after Pannonian troops assassinated Severus Alexander at Moguntiacum. His reign ended when soldiers of Legio II Parthica assassinated him and his son around May or June 238.
Soldiers of Legio II Parthica assassinated Maximinus Thrax and his son around May or June 238 during a siege at Aquileia. The city closed its gates against him causing his troops to suffer starvation before the mutiny occurred.
The first campaign targeted the Alemanni tribe in the Agri Decumates swamp allowing Maximinus to adopt the title Germanicus Maximus. A second campaign may have pushed deep into Germania beyond the Weser River evidenced by historians citing the Battle at the Harzhorn.
Senators viewed him as a peasant unworthy of the throne because he rose solely through military service ranks without senatorial or equestrian class background. Tax collectors began using violent methods to fund continuous warfare while illegal confiscations alienated the governing class further creating deep divisions within Roman society.