Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus was born ca. 245 in Dalmatia. He came from humble origins and rose through the military to serve as commander at Moesia. Diocletian may have played some part in the deaths of Carus and Numerian; his troops proclaimed him emperor and he marched against Carinus in Rome. Carinus met him in battle and was ultimately killed, and Diocletian gained the support of his troops. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
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In 285, Diocletian appointed his colleague Maximian as Caesar and gave him control of the Western provinces; the emperor had no sons on whom to rely. In 286 Maximian was raised to Augustus, and propaganda tended to identify Diocletian with Jove and Maximian with Hercules. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
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Diocletian spent five years campaigning against the Danube tribes and unsuccessfully dealing with the upstart Carausius. Although the dual emperor system worked well, he began to worry about the succession. As a solution, Diocletian and Maximian each appointed a junior Caesar to succeed when either of the Augusti died (Constantius and Galerius.)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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Diocletians reorganization of the imperial system proved his greatest contribution to the Roman empire. The Senates influence was on the decline, and the empire was divided into more orderly provinces, with stricter rules about their governance. He is also remembered for reinstating worship of the traditional Roman pantheon and persecuting Christians.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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Diocletian and Maximian gave up power in 205, and Diocletian retired to Split (in modern Croatia) where he died in 311.<\/p>","image":"Diocletian.jpg","zoomfolder":"Diocletian","dynasty":"10","murdoch":null,"updated":"2007-08-09 11:51:48","updatedBy":"56","created":"2006-01-08 12:00:00","createdBy":"56","i":"90","denomID":"27"},{"id":"55","name":"Maximian","reeceID":"15","pasID":"91","date_from":"286","date_to":"310","biography":"
Maximian was born ca 250. He was adopted by Diocletian and made co-Augustus in 286; Maximian effectively ruled the western part of the empire while Diocletian dealt with problems in the north and east. <\/p>
With Diocletian, Maximian restored the Forum in Rome and built a set of baths even bigger than Caracalla\u2019s. He adopted Constantius as his son and successor when Diocletian adopted Maximian; he abdicated power with Diocletian in 305. However, Maximian did not take well to retirement. As a Senior Augustus, he continued to involve himself at times in affairs of the empire. He died at Marseilles in 310; he may have been murdered, or may have committed suicide. <\/p>","image":"Maximian.jpg","zoomfolder":"Maximian","dynasty":"10","murdoch":null,"updated":"2007-08-09 11:52:37","updatedBy":"56","created":"2006-01-08 12:00:00","createdBy":"56","i":"91","denomID":"27"},{"id":"74","name":"Constantius Chlorus","reeceID":"15","pasID":"92","date_from":"293","date_to":"306","biography":"
Constantius was born ca 250 in Illyricum. Maximian adopted him as son and heir in 293 as Diocletian adopted Galerian, forming the new system of tetrarchy.<\/p>\r\n
Upon the abdication of the older Augusti, Constantius I was named Augustus of the Western empire in 305. He had left his concubine Helena (mother of Constantine) to marry Maximian\u2019s daughter Theodora. He had been assigned to subdue Carausius, the British usurper, who was killed by Allectus; three years later in a larger operation, Constantius was able to suppress Allectus\u2019 regime. Now, as Augustus, Constantius again went to Britain and fought successfully against the Picts. He died in 306 and his troops proclaimed Constantine emperor. <\/p>","image":"Constantius.jpg","zoomfolder":"Constantius","dynasty":"10","murdoch":null,"updated":"2007-08-09 11:53:35","updatedBy":"56","created":"2006-01-08 12:00:00","createdBy":"56","i":"92","denomID":"27"},{"id":"97","name":"Constantine I","reeceID":"0","pasID":"100","date_from":"306","date_to":"337","biography":"
Gaius Flavius Valerius Constantinus was born in 272 or 273 at Naissus to Helena and Constantius I. He was named Caesar of the west in 306, and gradually consolidated power by marching on Maxentius and conquering Rome, then marching on his co-emperor Licinius and eventually ousting him as well. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Constantine became Augustus in 313, shortly after his defeat of Maxentius. He struggled with Licinius I over the naming of their respective sons as caesars, and only in 317 after a number of battles did they compromise and name Constantine\u2019s two sons as well as Licinius the Younger as caesars. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Constantine converted to Christianity and made it legal in the Roman empire; historians like Eusebius glorify his deeds but in reality he was a tricky military commander and ruthless leader. He was responsible for the deaths of his son Crispus and second wife Fausta, and appears to have practiced both Christianity and worship of the sun-god until at least 312. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
He also instituted a number of new measures, including a severe tax on city residents every four years. The Christian minority generally liked the emperor, though they too complained of his taxes. His lasting legacy is probably the demotion of Rome as Constantine founded a new capital at Byzantium. He had rarely lived in Rome anyway, and disbanded the Praetorian Guard\u2014one of the city\u2019s status-markers as the imperial capital. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Constantine was baptized as he lay dying, by Eusebius. He was on campaign against the Persians at the time, and his body was buried in Constantinople. <\/p>","image":"ConstantineI1.jpg","zoomfolder":"Constantine_I_1","dynasty":"11","murdoch":null,"updated":"2007-08-09 12:08:44","updatedBy":"56","created":"2006-01-08 12:00:00","createdBy":"56","i":"100","denomID":"27"},{"id":"106","name":"Galeria Valeria","reeceID":"15","pasID":"94","date_from":"308","date_to":"311","biography":"
Galeria Valeria was the daughter of the tetrarch Diocletian and married Galerius when he became Caesar in 293. <\/p>","image":"GaleriaValeria.jpg","zoomfolder":"Galeria_Valeria","dynasty":"10","murdoch":null,"updated":"2007-08-09 11:58:18","updatedBy":"56","created":"2006-01-08 12:00:00","createdBy":"56","i":"94","denomID":"27"},{"id":"107","name":"Galerius","reeceID":"15","pasID":"93","date_from":"293","date_to":"311","biography":"
Gaius Galerius Valerius was born ca 250 near Serdica. He had a distinguished military career, and Diocletian nominated him as junior emperor in 293 (at which point Galerius divorced his wife and married Diocletian\u2019s daughter Valeria). Galerius successfully ruled Egypt and supposedly incited Diocletian to persecute the Christians; he became Augustus in 305 when Diocletian abdicated. <\/p>
As Augustus of the east, Galerius was theoretically subordinate to the Western emperor but managed to appoint two favourites, Maximinus and Valerius Severus, as the junior Caesars. Upon the death of Constantius, he grudgingly allowed Constantine to become Caesar, but insisted that Severus be Augustus. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Maxentius soon overthrew Severus, and Galerius invaded Italy but was forced to retreat. He summoned Diocletian and Maximian to meet him and declare Maxentius a usurper in 308; they appointed Licinus in his place. Galerius grew sick in 310 and feared the illness was retribution from the Christian god, so he reluctantly lifted some of his persecution. He died in 311. <\/p>","image":"Galerius.jpg","zoomfolder":"Galerius","dynasty":"10","murdoch":null,"updated":"2007-08-09 11:54:43","updatedBy":"56","created":"2006-01-08 12:00:00","createdBy":"56","i":"93","denomID":"27"},{"id":"120","name":"Licinius","reeceID":"16","pasID":"98","date_from":"308","date_to":"324","biography":"
Licinius came to power in 308, appointed Augustus by Galerius and Diocletian in the midst of power struggles. He was unable to remove Maxentius from Italy, and operated out of the Balkans. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Licinius and Constantine split when Constantine tried to take power, invading the Balkans and trying to squeeze out the claims of Licinius the Younger to becoming Caesar. Ultimately, Licinius and Constantine ceased fighting in a treaty which named Constantine\u2019s two sons as well as Licinius the Younger as Caesars.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Licinius suspected Christians in his service of being Constantine\u2019s partisans, and began to dismiss them. On this pretext, Constantine again attacked Licinius, eventually defeating his forces in Hadrianopolis and again across the Bosphorus. He sent Licinius and his son to live as private citizens, but at some point in early 325 they were hanged. <\/p>","image":"LiciniusI.jpg","zoomfolder":"Licinus_I","dynasty":"10","murdoch":null,"updated":"2007-08-09 12:05:36","updatedBy":"56","created":"2006-01-08 12:00:00","createdBy":"56","i":"98","denomID":"27"},{"id":"121","name":"Licinius II","reeceID":"16","pasID":"99","date_from":"317","date_to":"324","biography":"
Licinius the Younger was the son of Licinius I and Constantia. His birth provoked a succession struggle and the ultimate fall of his father from power, as Constantine sought to have his sons become Caesars in the west. The peace treaty between Licinius and Constantine of 317 allowed for the joint accession of Constantine\u2019s sons and Licinius II as Caesars in 317; Licinius II died when Constantine defeated his father near the Bosphorus, sent them to live as private citizens, and then had them executed. <\/p>","image":"LiciniusII.jpg","zoomfolder":"Licinus_II","dynasty":"10","murdoch":null,"updated":"2007-08-09 12:06:46","updatedBy":"56","created":"2006-01-08 12:00:00","createdBy":"56","i":"99","denomID":"27"},{"id":"128","name":"Sextus Martinianus","reeceID":"16","pasID":"383","date_from":"324","date_to":"324","biography":"
Martius Martinianus was Licinius I\u2019s bodyguard, and was briefly elevated as co-emperor after Licinius\u2019 defeat at Hadrianopolis by the troops of Constantine. They were soon defeated for good at Chrysopolis and sent to live private lives, but Constantine later had them executed. <\/p>","image":"Martinian.jpg","zoomfolder":"Martinian","dynasty":"10","murdoch":null,"updated":"2007-08-09 12:07:26","updatedBy":"56","created":"2006-01-08 12:00:00","createdBy":"56","i":"383","denomID":"27"},{"id":"130","name":"Maxentius","reeceID":"15","pasID":"97","date_from":"306","date_to":"312","biography":"
Maxentius was the son of Maximian and was angry that he had not been elevated to Caesar in 305. He took up residence just outside of Rome, and when Galerius decided to extend taxation to all of Italy he saw the opportunity to lead a revolt. He also allied with Constantine and called his father Maximian out of retirement. <\/p>
Severus tried to march on Rome to retake it, but his troops deserted to Maximian and he was killed. The Galerius himself invaded Rome, but he too was unsuccessful in putting down Maxentius\u2019 rebellion.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Maximian tried to usurp his son\u2019s power in 310, but failed and fled to Constantine\u2019s protection. After a conference of Diocletian, Galerius, and Maximian, the tetrarchy was re-affirmed and Maxentius was left in control of Italy and Africa. However, his popularity began to decline and he faced rebellions. In 312, Constantine finally marched on Rome under Christian banners, and Maxentius\u2019 troops died when the Milvian Bridge collapsed as they were retreating back into Rome. Maxentius himself died while trying to swim to safety. <\/p>","image":"Maxentius.jpg","zoomfolder":"Maxentius","dynasty":"10","murdoch":null,"updated":"2007-08-09 11:57:16","updatedBy":"56","created":"2006-01-08 12:00:00","createdBy":"56","i":"97","denomID":"27"},{"id":"131","name":"Maximinus Daia","reeceID":"15","pasID":"96","date_from":"305","date_to":"313","biography":"
Maximinus II Daza (or Daia), full name Galerius Valerius Maximinus, was the nephew of Galerius (q.v.) who made him his junior colleague, or Caesar, of the Eastern Empire (with control of Syria and Egypt) in AD 305. He rose to full Augustus in AD 310 after a brief intermediate period holding the title Filius Augustorum, or son of the emperors, AD 308-9.<\/p>\n
Maximinus was known for intolerance towards Christians. Even after Galerius's edict of toleration in 310 seeking to end the Great Persecution, Maximinus still sought to revitalise paganism. He is claimed to be responsible of the martyrdom of St Catherine of Alexandria (q.v.). On Galerius' death (AD 311), he took over Asia Minor and had designs on Thrace, but was defeated by Licinius I (q.v.). His death followed later in the same year of this setback (AD 313); either from disease, or suicide.<\/p>","image":"MaximinusII.jpg","zoomfolder":"Maximinus_II","dynasty":"10","murdoch":null,"updated":"2010-03-18 14:29:35","updatedBy":"56","created":"2006-01-08 12:00:00","createdBy":"56","i":"96","denomID":"27"},{"id":"141","name":"Valerius Romulus","reeceID":"15","pasID":"381","date_from":"309","date_to":"309","biography":"
Romulus died in 309 and was the son of Maxentius. Coins were issued in his memory. <\/p>","image":"Romulus.jpg","zoomfolder":"Romulus","dynasty":"10","murdoch":null,"updated":"2007-08-09 11:57:55","updatedBy":"56","created":"2006-01-08 12:00:00","createdBy":"56","i":"381","denomID":"27"},{"id":"145","name":"Severus","reeceID":"15","pasID":"95","date_from":"305","date_to":"307","biography":"
Flavius Valerius Severus had served as governor of Pannonia before Constantius I raised him to the rank of Caesar. As Caesar, Severus controlled Pannonia, Italy, and Africa. In July 306, Constantius died and Severus became Augustus of the west. He was unpopular due to the high taxed he levied and in October 306, Maxentius led a revolt against him. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
The next spring, Severus marched on Rome but was defeated near Ravenna. He surrendered on condition that his life be spared, but Maxentius soon executed him. <\/p>","image":"Severus.jpg","zoomfolder":"Severus","dynasty":"10","murdoch":null,"updated":"2007-08-09 11:55:14","updatedBy":"56","created":"2006-01-08 12:00:00","createdBy":"56","i":"95","denomID":"27"}],"images":[{"thumbnail":"362191","f":"ess-c83012 silver denarius.jpg","label":"Roman Silver coin","id":"475913","old_findID":"ESS-C83012","objecttype":"COIN","broadperiod":"ROMAN","username":"samatthews"},{"thumbnail":"129782","f":"Crisp0207diocletian.jpg","label":"Roman coin : Argenteus of Diocletian","id":"159499","old_findID":"WILT-CA45F1","objecttype":"Coin","broadperiod":"ROMAN","username":"khinds"}]}