Diocletian

1
Diocletian

• He multiplied the wheels of the machine of
  government, and rendered its operations less
  rapid but more secure. Whatever advantages and
  whatever defects might attend these innovations
  they must be ascribed in a very great degree to
  the 1st inventor
• -Gibbon, Chapter XIII

Mason W. 1/11/02 Mr.. Burnett, G
2
Diocletians Coin Page

• The obverse side of the coin has Diocletians
  bust
• The reverse side of this coin has Jupiter holding
  a thunderbolt and Scepter
• This enforces the propaganda of comparing Jupiter
  on one side to Diocletian on the other.
• It makes the on looker see Diocletian and Jupiter
  on the same level.

3
Diocletians Palace at Split

• Diocletian had a limitless passion for building,
  which led to an equally limitless scouring of the
  provinces to raise workers, craftsmen, wagons,
  and whatever is necessary for building
  operations. (Lactantius 1984, 7, 2-10).
• His palace was a fortress and a palace.
• Roads divided the palace into 4 parts.
• The northern half had a court yard and the more
  important southern half had the entrance hall
  which was the main way to get to Diocletians
  main apartment.
• The main gates were of the latest military
  design.
• The Inner Gate also had heavy double doors.

4
Birth and Death

• He was Born December 22, 245 in Dalmatia.
• Near Splato (Split).
• Spent final years there.
• Declared emperor in November 284 by his troops.
• Returned to his Palace at Split where he died on
  December 3, 311.

5
And Everything In between

• Humble origin.
• His Father might have been a scribe or maybe a
  freedman
• Army career.
• Rose to the Elite Corps Of Illyrian army.
• His original name was Diocles.
• Might have murdered Numerian but transferred
  blame to Aper.
• Aper means boar.
• Diocletian once got a fortune that he would kill
  a boar and he used it to justify his reign.

6
A Little on the Great Persecution

• 297 ordered all soldiers to sacrifice to the
  gods.
• Those who didnt had to resign.
• ordered destruction of all churches and
  scriptures.
• Punished leading Christians.
• ordered the imprisonment of all the clergy.
• Released after they had sacrificed to the gods.
• 304 ordered all Christians put to death unless
  they sacrificed to the gods.

7
Elevation of Maximian

• Diocletian was married and had one daughter but
  no son.
• He sought the support of a general and chose
  Maximian.
• They could have been rivals but they were
  friends.
• Maximian rose to the position of Augustus and
  shared consulship in 287.

8
Jupiter and Hercules

• Imperial Propaganda made them both look like
  gods.
• Diocletian was the senior father, Jove, and
  adopted the title Jovis.
• Maximian was the son, Hercules, and adopted the
  title Herculius.

9
From Joint Rule to Tetrarchy

• 285-290 he demonstrated the effectiveness of the
  joint rule.
• Serious difficulty lay in getting his successor.
• As time went by he wanted it to be more formal.
• Furthermore he saw how effective two rulers were.
• His solution was for them both to appoint
  Caesars.
• Maximian Chose Julius Constantius
• Diocletian chose Galerius Maximianus.

10
Break down of the Empire

• Diocletians greatest legacy was the Tetrarchy
• Run on two tiers-Provinces grouped into 12 big
  Dioceses.
• Goverened by vicars.
• Provincial governors and vicars had no military
  responsibility. Rebellions were impossible
• He made people happy by introducing impartial
  laws.
• Losers were the inhabitants of Italy who lost
  their tax-free status.
• Senators also lost some power.

11
Diocletians and Galerius Victories

• Egypt Lucius Domitius Domitianus was declared
  emperor.
• He died and an obscure Aurelius Achilles took his
  place.
• Diocletian stopped Achilles and order was
  restored.
• It was a warning of weakness.
• Later Galerius squashed the Persians and the
  peace lasted for 40 years.

12
Maximian and Contantiuss Victories

• Brought back Britain.
• Used two-pronged attack.
• Allectus was caught off guard and killed near
  Farnham.
• After 10 years Britain was back in the Empire.
• Major military affairs were over.
• Just internal and domestic problems.

13
True Nature of the Tetrarch

• Lactantius believed it was a literal division of
  the empire.
• Victor also assumed that it was a precise
  division of the government.
• There is plenty to suggest that Diocletian didnt
  want it to be so literal.
• Usually thought of as four equal emperors.
• If a leader was needed it would be Diocletian.

14
The Final Years

• By the time the last anti-Christian edict was
  issued Diocletian was in bad health.
• Illness made him retire to his palace at Split.
• The other Augustus also has to retire.
• Constantius and Galerius were new emperors.
• Their Caesars and junior Emperors were Maximian
  and Severius.
• Maximian retired to Southern Italy.
• Diocletian made last public appearance before he
  died on December 3, 311.

15
A Bonus Statue of Diocletian

• This is a statue of Diocletian and the other 3
  tetrarchs.
• The one with the beard is Diocletian.
• The one he is standing near is Maximian and the
  other two are Galerius and Constantius.

16
Bibliography

• http//www.geocities.com/laydeea1968/zeuspic.html.
  1/9/02
• A good source for pictures I found a sculpture of
  Zeus.
• http//archive.ncsa.uiuc.edu/SDG/Experimental/spli
  t/builder.html. 12/19/01
• Had nice quote and information on Diocletians
  building.
• Campus.northpark.edu. 10/25/01
• Good details on Diocletians rise to power but
  lack information on the Tetrarch.
• Perseus.tufts.edu 10/25/01.
• Had a lot of pictures that were very helpful.
• Sinnigen, William S., Boak, Arthur E. R. A
  History of Rome. New York. Macmillian
  Publishing. 1921.
• A good picture of the statue that is on my 4th
  slide.
• Chris Scarre. Chronicle of the Roman Emperors.
  LondonThames and Hudson. 1995.
• It had a lot of information but the gaps needed
  to be filled in with other sources.