Upon taking the throne, the first thing that Diocletian did was to ensure that he did not go the way of previous military emperors.
He did the harlem shake!
Diocletian
Prior to Diocletian's accession to power, the Roman Empire was ruled by a co-emperorship with Carinus in charge of the east and Numerian, his younger brother, in charge of the west. Diocletian was proclaimed emperor when Numerian died. Carinus set out to fight Diocletian, but lost.
Diocletian unleashed the worse persecution of Christians in the history of the Roman: the Great Persecution.Diocletian subdivided the Empire into four administrative units and created the tetrarchy (rule by four). He appointed fellow general Maximian as co-emperor in 285. Maximian took overall control of the western part of the empire, while Diocletian took overall control of the eastern part. Then these two men became senior emperors (Augusti) with the creation in 293 of two junior emperors (Caesars) who were subordinates of the Augusti. Diocletian also created the four praetorian prefectures of Galliae(Gaul, Britannia and Hispania), Italia et Africa, Illyricum (the Balkan Peninsula except for Thracia, in the southeast, next to modern Turkey) and Oriens (Thracia, the territories in Asia and Egypt). . Maximian took charge of Italia et Africa and Diocletian took charge of Oriens. The Caesars Constantius and Galerius took charge of Galliae and Illyricum respectively. One of the tasks of the Caesars was to defend the troubled frontiers along the rivers Rhine and Danube respectively, which had been under constant attack from outside.Diocletian also designated four cities ans new imperial capitals: Nicomedia (in north-western Turkey), Augusta Trevorum (Triers in Germany near the river Rhine) and Sirmium (near Belgrade on the river Danube).
He divide the empire into two halves and shared his power with a co-emperor.
The emperor Diocletian created the tetrarchy (rule by four) and created FOUR main administrative units (not two) which were called praetorian prefectures. Diocletian appointed fellow general Maximian as co-emperor. Maximian took overall control of the western part of the empire, while Diocletian took overall control of the eastern part. These two men became senior emperors (Augusti) with the creation of two junior emperors (Caesars). The Caesars were subordinate to the Augusti and took charge of defending the troubled frontiers along the rivers Rhine and Danube respectively, which were under constant attack from outside.The above created the four praetorian prefectures. Diocletian took charge praetorian prefecture of Oriens : eastern Libya (Cyrenaica) Egypt and the territories in Asia. Maximilian took charge of the praetorian prefecture of Italia: Italy and Africa (north-western Africa). One junior emperor (Constantius I) took charge of the praetorian prefecture of Galliae: Britannia and Gaul and Hispania. The other Caesar (Galerius) took charge of the praetorian prefecture of Illyricum: the Balkan Peninsula in south-eastern Europe. These were units of a single empire which, Diocletian stressed, was indivisible.This reform had several aims: 1) The bad experience of recent sole emperors suggested to Diocletian that sole emperors were vulnerable and that co-emperorship made power more secure. 2) Diocletian had no male issue. Therefore he needed a trusted co-ruler from outside the family. 3) There was a need to improve imperial control over the empire. There had been conflict between powerful men in every province of the empire. Diocletian shared controlling the provinces with Maximian. 4) There was also a need to improve the efficiency of the defence of the vast frontiers of the empire from constant attacks from outside. The creation of these four units was not a division of the empire which, as Diocletian stressed, was indivisible. It was an administrative arrangement.Co-emperorship was not new. Previously emperors had made their sons co-emperors with one in charge of the east and the other in charge of the east. The purpose was the same, improving the defence of the frontiers. After the tetrarchy, there was an alternation of periods of co-emperorship and periods with a sole emperor. This clearly shows that the empire was not divided.
intruduced reform
Diocletian
Diocletian was emperor for 284 to 305
Diocletian fought a power struggle with Carinus
Maximian was a Roman military commander who served, together with Diocletian, under the emperors Aurelian (270-275) and Probus (276-282) and took part in the election of Diocletian as emperor. Diocletian appointed him as co-emperor. Diocletian was in charge of the part of the empire and Maximian was in charge of the western part.
Prior to Diocletian's accession to power, the Roman Empire was ruled by a co-emperorship with Carinus in charge of the east and Numerian, his younger brother, in charge of the west. Diocletian was proclaimed emperor when Numerian died. Carinus set out to fight Diocletian, but lost.
Diocletian tried to make the vast empire easier to govern by dividing it into four. Under diocletian there were two Caesars and two Augustii, with each being responsible for his own territory. Unfortunately, it was only good on paper, as when Diocletian retired, petty jealousies and rivalries loomed, causing power grabs (again).Diocletian tried to make the vast empire easier to govern by dividing it into four. Under diocletian there were two Caesars and two Augustii, with each being responsible for his own territory. Unfortunately, it was only good on paper, as when Diocletian retired, petty jealousies and rivalries loomed, causing power grabs (again).Diocletian tried to make the vast empire easier to govern by dividing it into four. Under diocletian there were two Caesars and two Augustii, with each being responsible for his own territory. Unfortunately, it was only good on paper, as when Diocletian retired, petty jealousies and rivalries loomed, causing power grabs (again).Diocletian tried to make the vast empire easier to govern by dividing it into four. Under diocletian there were two Caesars and two Augustii, with each being responsible for his own territory. Unfortunately, it was only good on paper, as when Diocletian retired, petty jealousies and rivalries loomed, causing power grabs (again).Diocletian tried to make the vast empire easier to govern by dividing it into four. Under diocletian there were two Caesars and two Augustii, with each being responsible for his own territory. Unfortunately, it was only good on paper, as when Diocletian retired, petty jealousies and rivalries loomed, causing power grabs (again).Diocletian tried to make the vast empire easier to govern by dividing it into four. Under diocletian there were two Caesars and two Augustii, with each being responsible for his own territory. Unfortunately, it was only good on paper, as when Diocletian retired, petty jealousies and rivalries loomed, causing power grabs (again).Diocletian tried to make the vast empire easier to govern by dividing it into four. Under diocletian there were two Caesars and two Augustii, with each being responsible for his own territory. Unfortunately, it was only good on paper, as when Diocletian retired, petty jealousies and rivalries loomed, causing power grabs (again).Diocletian tried to make the vast empire easier to govern by dividing it into four. Under diocletian there were two Caesars and two Augustii, with each being responsible for his own territory. Unfortunately, it was only good on paper, as when Diocletian retired, petty jealousies and rivalries loomed, causing power grabs (again).Diocletian tried to make the vast empire easier to govern by dividing it into four. Under diocletian there were two Caesars and two Augustii, with each being responsible for his own territory. Unfortunately, it was only good on paper, as when Diocletian retired, petty jealousies and rivalries loomed, causing power grabs (again).
He became happy.
Diocletian unleashed the worse persecution of Christians in the history of the Roman: the Great Persecution.Diocletian subdivided the Empire into four administrative units and created the tetrarchy (rule by four). He appointed fellow general Maximian as co-emperor in 285. Maximian took overall control of the western part of the empire, while Diocletian took overall control of the eastern part. Then these two men became senior emperors (Augusti) with the creation in 293 of two junior emperors (Caesars) who were subordinates of the Augusti. Diocletian also created the four praetorian prefectures of Galliae(Gaul, Britannia and Hispania), Italia et Africa, Illyricum (the Balkan Peninsula except for Thracia, in the southeast, next to modern Turkey) and Oriens (Thracia, the territories in Asia and Egypt). . Maximian took charge of Italia et Africa and Diocletian took charge of Oriens. The Caesars Constantius and Galerius took charge of Galliae and Illyricum respectively. One of the tasks of the Caesars was to defend the troubled frontiers along the rivers Rhine and Danube respectively, which had been under constant attack from outside.Diocletian also designated four cities ans new imperial capitals: Nicomedia (in north-western Turkey), Augusta Trevorum (Triers in Germany near the river Rhine) and Sirmium (near Belgrade on the river Danube).
Diocletian was emperor from 284-305
No, Diocletian, instigated one of the longest persecutions of the Christians.No, Diocletian, instigated one of the longest persecutions of the Christians.No, Diocletian, instigated one of the longest persecutions of the Christians.No, Diocletian, instigated one of the longest persecutions of the Christians.No, Diocletian, instigated one of the longest persecutions of the Christians.No, Diocletian, instigated one of the longest persecutions of the Christians.No, Diocletian, instigated one of the longest persecutions of the Christians.No, Diocletian, instigated one of the longest persecutions of the Christians.No, Diocletian, instigated one of the longest persecutions of the Christians.
Diocletian created what historians have called the tetrarchy (rule by four). In 285 he appointed his fellow general Maximian as co-emperor. Maximian took overall control of the western part of the Roman Empire, while Diocletian took overall control of the eastern part. Then these two men became senior emperors (Augusti) with the creation of two junior emperors (Caesars) who were subordinates of the Augusti in 293. The empire was subdivided into four praetorian provinces, each headed by one of the tetrarchs. The two Caesars were Galerius and Constantius Chorus. Maximian took charge of Italia et Africa (Italy and north-western Africa) and Constantius took charge of Galliae (Gaul, Britannia and Hispania). Both were in the western part of the empire. Diocletian took charge of Oriens (Thracia, the territories in Asia and Egypt) and Galerius took charge of Illyricum (the Balkan Peninsula except for Thracia, in the southeast of this peninsula, next to modern Turkey). Both were in the eastern part of the empire. Diocletian also created four imperial capitals (or better imperial seats), one for each emperor. Diocletian stressed that the four praetorian prefectures were administrative units and that the empire was indivisible.