Galeria Valeria - A.D. 308-310 - AE Follis - Veneri Victrici - RIC VI 33

Galeria Valeria - (died 315) was the daughter of Roman Emperor Diocletian & wife of his co-emperor Galerius.

Biography - Born as Valeria to Diocletian & Prisca she married Galerius in 293, when her father elevated him to the position of Caesar. This marriage was clearly organized to strengthen the bonds between the 2 emperors.

Valeria was raised to the title of Augusta & Mater Castrorum in November 308. Since Galerius fathered no child with her, Valeria adopted her husband's illegitimate son, Candidianus, as her own. In her honor Galerius renamed the province  of Upper Pannonia Valeria, which he had improved by draining marshes & removing forests.

When Galerius died in 311, Licinius was entrusted with the care of Valeria & her mother, Prisca. The 2 women, however fled from Licinius to Maximinus II Daia, whose daughter was betrothed to Candidianus. After a short time, Valeria refused the marriage proposal of Maximinus, who arrested & confined her in Syria & confiscated her properties. At the death of Maximinus, Licinius ordered the death of both women. Valeria & Prisca fled, hiding for a year, until they were recognized by residents in Thessaloniki. She & her mother were captured by Licinius' soldiers, beheaded in the central square of the city & their bodies thrown in the sea.

Valeria was sympathetic towards Christians, while Galerius persecuted them. She was canonized as a Christian saint with her mother, aka Saint Alexandra.