A
pagan, he must have had a successful political career, as he managed to be appointed
urban prefect of
Rome (), serving from 1 September 319 until 13 September 323. He held this post while Constantine was campaigning in the
Balkans, and the emperor's son, the
Caesar Crispus was at
Augusta Treverorum. The abnormally long period of time he held this post, and the extended imperial absence, indicate that he was a trusted imperial subordinate. Valerius Maximus was either the son of
Lucius Valerius Messalla,
consul in 280, or (more likely) another descendant of the first's father
Lucius Valerius Poplicola Balbinus Maximus, consul in 253, thus paternal nephew of the first. He was probably the father of
Valerius Maximus and, by
Melania the Elder, Valerius Publicola. ==Ancestry==