Emperor Diocletian and the Period of Dominate

Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus Augustus, 245 BC – 313. Roman Emperor from 284 to 305. After he came to power Diocletian ended the so-called “crisis of the third century”. From his reign began a period in Roman history called the Dominate.

The rise to power – Origin

Roman emperor Diocletian was the grandson of a slave. He started as a simple soldier in military service but quickly advanced through his great career.  After the death of Emperor Carinus, the army proclaimed him as the new Emperor.

Diocletian began a new era in the Roman Empire, from his time, imperial power became not only de facto, but also de jure unlimited, absolute monarchical power (dominant). The emperor did not share it with the Senate; he himself was the source of all power, above all laws; all inhabitants of the empire, whatever their rank.

Diocletian employed the help of his old friend Maximian, giving him the title of Caesar, and after the suppression of the peasant uprising in Gaul, the title Augustus, in 286. While Maximian defended Gaul from the Germans, Diocletian was occupied in the east; ensuring the security of the borders with Asia and Europe. Diocletian moved to Syria to arrange an alliance with Persia; when the situation in the East was favorable for Rome, he turned to Europe to protect the Danube from Sarmatian attacks. He managed to defend the old border along the Danube and created another province for Rome. The emperors postponed their triumphant arrival in Rome, but each adopted a new epithet: Diocletian began to add to his names Jovius (Jupiter), and Maximian – Herculius (Hercules).

Administrative Reform of Diocletian

The division of the empire into four parts led to the transformation of the provincial governments. The empire was fragmented into a large number of administrative districts, so that they were subordinated to the jurisdiction of a larger government center. The whole empire was divided into 12 dioceses, each divided into a certain number of provinces. Such a control system required an increased number of officials, and an increase in taxes for the population. Nevertheless, this reform was consistent with the needs at the time and was maintained after Diocletian. The change in the Diocletian system of administration took place in the reign of Justinian I.

Tetrarchy

In 291, at a meeting in Milan with Maximian, who had arrived from Gaul, it was decided to elect two Caesars, and the choice was Constantius Chlorus and Galerius Maximian. The addition to the imperial power structure was due to the fact that, with constant wars in different parts of the empire, the two Emperors had no time to manage affairs of the state.

To cement the mutual connection with the new emperors, Diocletian and Maximian entered into a close relationship with them: Constantius, divorced from Helen, the mother of Constantine, and married the stepdaughter of Maximilian, and received the administration of Gaul and Britain; Galerius, also divorced his wife, and married the daughter of Diocletian and received control of all Illyria.

Maximian had general supervision of the entire West, and was granted power to manage Italy, Africa, and Spain. The areas to the East of Italy remained in the care of Diocletian. At the same time, he attracted 18-year-old Constantine, Constantine’s son by Helen, who followed him everywhere in his campaigns in the East. The inauguration of the two Caesars to imperial power took place on March 1, 293. The division of the regions for administration was not so much to effect the division of the empire itself, but rather the reduction of management labor in government, headed, at least morally, by Diocletian as before.

Protection of State Borders

Maximian had to defend the Rhine borders from German invasions in 296, and the next year, pacify the Moors in Africa. Diocletian protected the border on the lower Danube. Diocletian had to go to Egypt, which was at that time in the hands of the usurper. After an eight-month siege, Diocletian seized Alexandria and severely punished the Alexandrians and the Egyptians in general, for treason in 298. At the same time, Diocletian took measures to more easily manage Egypt, dividing it into three provinces, and to endear the populace to the Roman government by distributing bread to poor residents at public expense. At that time, a strange edict was ordered, to collect all the old books that taught how to make gold and silver, and burn them. This could be explained by Diocletian’s desire to destroy the source of wealth, as well as the arrogance of the Egyptians. Finally, through an agreement with the nobles, he secured the southern border of Egypt from attacks of barbarian tribes, promising to pay them an annual tribute. During the Egyptian campaign, he sent Galerius to Mesopotamia against the Persians, who at that time were fighting with the Roman-sponsored pretender to the independent Armenian throne. Galerius failed, and fled to Diocletian, who was on his way from Antioch. The second campaign of Galerius was more successful. He defeated the Persians in Armenia and forced them to give the Romans five provinces on the other side of the Tigris in 297.

Christianity

He persecuted Christians. In the year of his death, the edict of Constantine the Great granted the right of free transition to Christianity to anyone who wished. Evaluation of Diocletian’s personality and activity is portrayed differently by pagan and Christian writers. Some writers say that he imposed eastern splendor on them, demanding that his subjects think of him as a God.

Last years

The time of Diocletian was proclaimed by modern historians as the return of the golden age. Diocletian left Rome and went to his favorite residence, Nicomedia. On the way there he fell ill and transferred power to Galerius and Constantius, and they received the title of August.

Diocletian spent the rest of his life in his homeland in Illyria, on his estate, where he lived for 8 more years. The attempt of Maximian and Galerius to persuade him to return to power was refused. Diocletian died under unknown circumstances in 313.

Sources:

• Knyazky I. Emperor Diocletian and the decline of the ancient world
• Stephen Williams. Diocletian. Restorer of the Roman Empire
• Novitskaya, KI “Bulletin of Ancient History”