praetorian praefect under Maximinus, his devoted adherent and the willing instrument of his cruelty, was assassinated at Rome A. D. 238 by the emissaries of the Gordians before the events in Africa had been made known publicly. The details will be found in Herodian (7.14) and in Capitolinus (Gordian. tres, 10). See also Capitol. Maxim. duo, 14, where Valeriano is a false reading for Vitaliano.