galerius’ plan soon failed. the news of licinius’ promotion was carried into the east, and maximinus, who governed the provinces of egypt and syria, rejected his position as caesar. maximus claimed (and got) the equal title of augustus. for the first, and indeed for the last time, six emperors administered the roman world. although the memory of a recent war divided the empire into two great hostile powers, their fears and the fading authority of galerius produced an apparent tranquility in the imperial government.