Diocletian
| Diocletian | |
|---|---|
| Roman Emperor | |
 Head of Diocletian, the Archaeological Museum of Istanbul. | |
| Reign | |
| First usurper and legitimate March 285 - 1May 305 (~ 20 years) Throughout the Empire ( 285 - 286 ) and then East | |
| Period | First Ttrachie |
| Predecessor (s) | Carin |
| Co-emperor (s) | Maximian Hercules (West) |
| Usurper (s) | Domitius Domitianus ( 296 - 297 ) |
| Successor (s) | Galerius (East) Constantius (West) |
| Biography | |
| Birth | c. 22 December 244 Duklja ( Dalmatia ) |
| Original Name | Diodes |
| Deaths | 3 December 313 (~ 68 years) Palace of Diocletian ( Dalmatia ) |
| Spouse (s) | Prisca |
| Descent | Galeria Valeria |
| List of Roman Emperors | |
Diocletian, his full name (c. 245 - 313 ) was a Roman emperor of November 20 284 to 1 May 305. He was born in Dalmatia in 245 and died in 313.
Born under the name of parents Diocles Illyrian of low birth (his father was a scribe or a freedman), he rose through the ranks, became an officer and stands under the emperors Probus and Aurelian to become consul. After the murder of Emperor Numerian , on 11 September 284 , Diocletian is accused of the murder with the praetorian prefect Aper Arrius. He gets by charging Arrius Aper and stabbing him to the audience. Diocletian is proclaimed emperor by his soldiers of Chalcedon.
The Emperor Carin 's brother Numerian contests this title and routs the forces of Diocletian to the battle of Margus in March 285 in Moesia (now Serbia ). But Carin is killed by one of his officers, which provides power to Diocletian despite its military defeat.
From the diarchy tetrarchy division or service unit (286-305)
Diocletian in 284 is the latest in a long line of thieves. Ancient writers Lactantius and Eutropius makes a clever mind, gifted with a keen intelligence and a large computing capacity. He ruled until 285 but only its legitimacy remains fragile until the elimination of Carin (he is victorious "default") and its recognition by the Senate.
It implements a decentralized political system and proceeded slowly to changing circumstances as to time and Pupien Balbin (238), of Valerian and Gallienus (253-260), of Carus and Carin (282-283). They are encouraged to divide powers between the eastern and western parts of the Empire. He then appealed to an officer of Pannonia , Maximian. It promotes the dignity of Caesar in 285 and then to that of Augustus in 286 , giving him the West , keeping for himself the East.
Eight years later, in 293 , feeling that the focus should be on the civic and military problems for the defense and administration of the Empire , it reinforces the division of power by appointing two "auxiliary emperors." These two additional staff, generals from the ranks, being promoted to the dignity of Caesar , placed below each main emperor, who reserve the title of Augustus. Diocletian's son joins Galerius Maximian and attaches to his praetorian prefect Constantius.
The Roman Empire became a tetrarchy (or government of four). The two Augusti and Caesars is devoted to their part of the territory of the Empire: Do not, however, speak of division but of distribution, the Empire remained undivided. Each Tetrarch has a residence and a theater of operations:
- Diocletian from Nicomedia , follows the affairs of Asia and Egypt;
- Maximian in Milan, has the responsibility of Italy and Africa and the Hispania.
- Galley at Sirmium , is responsible for the Illyria and regions of the Danube ;
- Constantius, Trier, is responsible for Britain , and Gaul.
Rome loses its importance, but it remains the theoretical capital of the Empire and the Senate seat. Diocletian Rome has honored with his presence only twice: in the months that followed his victory over Carus vicennalia at 283 and 303.
Officials of Empire must be in the prime of life to be able to cope with problems and govern the empire. Diocletian fixed term of twenty years reign of Augustus who, during celebrations of vicennalia would have to deliver their power to Caesars after making the appointment of two new Caesars selected based on their value rather than their kinship with Augustus (incoming or outgoing) and seems settled the problem of succession in a design dating back to the Antonines (the choice of the best) very popular in Rome. Each order is signed jointly by the four kings but decisions taken by Augustus , the highest dignity, and Diocletian retains supremacy prevail. The desire for unity is symbolized by the group of ttraques Venice: they are associated in pairs and hug, symbolizing the new concord imperial armed and they are dressed alike (which shows the importance of the military), differing only by wearing a beard, reserved for Augustus.
A faith-based hierarchy is nevertheless imposed:
- Diocletian retained the rule: it is called Jupiter while Maximian is called Herculean (Hercules is the son of Jupiter): This is the way of excluding from the imperial community who have not sworn and divine order in advance any theft attempts.
- Each is subject to a Caesar Augustus: it has neither the general nor greetings imperial papacy.
The bas-reliefs of the Arch of Galerius at Thessaloniki are the virtual operation of government action, that is to say, a division of roles between the reigning Augusti and Caesars flying to the rescue of the provinces.
The restoration of the Empire
The imperial defense and military reforms
The military situation inherited by Diocletian and his colleagues has roughly the same hotspots at the death of Aurelian in 275. The tetrarchs actively to restore the authority of Rome.
The thieves are eliminated one after the other: in the West, Carausius in 293 then Allectus in 296; Egypt Domitius Domitianus and Aurelius Achilleus in 298.
Borders are pacified, and after ten years of struggle, the boundaries of the second century are restored with the exception of Agri Decumates and Dacia : the barbarians were driven beyond the Rhine, Danube area and Persians beyond Euphrates (concluded a peace treaty in 298 with King Narses which lasts for forty years until 337, which allows the Empire to acquire the provinces Transtigritanes ).
Diocletian's military action inspired by a statement, repeated failures suffered by the Roman army during the third century , and two principles, quality must supply the quantity and replace the stone men. The legions are fragmented in parallel with the reform of the provincial organization: the older preserve their units while others are reduced to 1000 men. The extra staff raises the issue of recruitment. Diocletian still using traditional means (voluntary commitment of misfits and barbarians) but changes the method of conscription, extended to the soldiers of the border who are required to bring a son into the army and the rural population, provision recruits being imposed as a tax obligation.
Diocletian alongside dedicated much effort and money to strengthen the files. Lactantius criticizes him a "passion for building ever met." All fronts are lined with forts and castella files and is reinforced by strategic roads, construction of walls in the main cities is widespread. On the Danube, the outposts were pushed ashore barbaric and Africa, the desert is covered by glaze patrols barbarian auxiliaries in the service of Rome.
A new territorial administration
Diocletian recasts total provincial completed by his successors.
- the provinces are fragmented into smaller units (they spend 47 to 85), Italy lost the privileges that were enjoyed since the establishment of the principate (empire) and is aligned with the administrative model for other parts of the Roman world also provincialise (except district near Rome) and is indistinguishable from the others by the name of "regio" which continue to be allocated and Egypt loses its unique status as personal property of the emperor. This measure must simultaneously increase the number of staff attached to the governors' offices and bring government closer to the people of the Empire.
- the new provinces are grouped, like the legions in twelve dioceses run by vicars , intermediate between the governors and prefects of the Praetorian Guard , systematically recruited from the equestrian order and dependent only on the emperor.
Meanwhile, changes are made in the administrative staff:
- The governors are all prefects equestrian except those in Asia and Africa remain proconsuls.
- The prefecture of the courtroom becomes a purely administrative function.
- The multiplication of offices leading to an increase in their numbers: they are organized as military staff headquarters.
A New Tax System
Diocletian shows a real interest in economic issues and particularly for finance. From 294, he reformed the monetary system based on gold (aureus), silver (Argentus) which finally replaces the antonianus bronze and emissions quality.
A new tax regime is decided for the whole of the Empire (it is attested in Egypt from 297) with the creation of a new tax paid per head and another on cropland payable in kind: it must be reviewed every five years (and then every two years under Constantine).
An edict of the maximum established in 301, is attempting to curb rising prices and wages, providing for the death penalty for offenders, but he seems to have little effect.
A power increasingly monarchical and sacred
The literary evidence is very attentive to the development of rites which sanctify the emperor and beyond the imperial function: they relate specifically to the reforms of Diocletian. The emperors continued to wear the traditional imperial titles and put on each year and the great power of the tribunes pontificate but these are relics from the past: other titles more overtly monarchical appear.
- The emperor is more commonly called dominus (lord).
- The term sacred is spreading and increasingly affects both the person of the emperor that the Court or the Imperial Council: the sacralization of power is more about the imperial role that the person who exercises (after his abdication, Diocletian becomes a private individual).
- Diocletian added to the diadem of Aurelian coat embroidered with jewels, replaces the seat of magistrates curule a throne richly adorned, is separated by a curtain of the public before any hearing and require from 291 the rite of worship (kiss bottom of the imperial mantle and genuflection). Ammianus Marcellinus notes that Diocletian was the first to do so: previously, the emperors were welcomed like the governors of provinces.
The great anti-Christian persecution of tetrarchy (303-311)
The persecution against Christians restarts from 303. It seems that Galerius , fearing the vengeance of the tutelary gods, has encouraged Diocletian to crack down to ensure the unity of the empire. Christians are not the only ones affected: in 297, in conjunction with the war against Persia, the Roman state turns against the Manichean.
Four universal edicts are promulgated 303-304 and displayed in all cities of the East. They intend to play havoc with the Christian communities in making the impossible worship;
- churches and sacred books should be burned.
- the bishops were imprisoned and Christians who hold public office are forgiven, slaves can not be freed.
- the repentant must be released.
- the death penalty is applied against those who refuse to sacrifice.
Eusebius is the direct witness to Caesarea. Town criers summon all the people (men, women and children) to compel them: it is difficult to evade because the call is personal.
This persecution is systematic and relies more on local government, more present since the reforms of the tetrarchy. It lasted until 311 in the East where edict issued by Galerius Sardica suspends the edicts of 303-304, but is put to sleep very early in the West, Constantius in Gaul who governs is so little trouble to apply the edicts that it knows no martyr.
The ancient authors speak of thousands of victims, especially in the eastern part of the Empire (which reveals that the proportion of Christians in the Empire's population has increased considerably).
Diocletian voluntarily gives up power
For twenty years, the Empire lived in relative political stability, while external threats have been greatly diminished during the last decade both in the Rhine-Danube frontier and in the Persian front. Contemporaries were struck by the resolution taken by Diocletian in 305 to voluntarily leave the power to let their successors already inducted: the commitment, made in 303 solemnly at vicennalia takes effect May 1, 305.
Diocletian and Maximian abdicate in favor of their Caesars in 305, avoiding being deposited or die in office (or be murdered, which is not so rare a method to change the emperor during the third century ). Diocletian spent his last years in a magnificent palace said Diocletian's Palace , on the Adriatic Sea , near Salona , the capital of Dalmatia. He built this palace that he dedicated to Jupiter , and which contains a sphinx of XV centuryBC. AD Diocletian was back to Egypt. In the ruins was built the city of Split (in Italian , Spalato, Latin Spalatum) today in Croatia. Maximian retired in Lucania without withdrawing from political life.
On heredity, Diocletian preferred choice of the best who popularized the dynasty Antonines , giving further evidence of its commitment to the principles of ancient Rome: nothing is more alien to Roman conceptions that the principle of heredity. Thus are excluded, although adult and capable, the son of Maximian, Maxentius , and of Constantius, Constantine : Two officers are close to Galerius elevated to Caesars, Maximin Daia , his friend, Severus , his nephew.
The system of tetrarchy does not survive its designers and dark in wars following the abdication. In 308 , Diocletian agrees to leave his palace to attend the meeting Carnuntum in Pannonia , with his former colleagues Maximian Hercules and Galerius. He persuaded Maximian to abdicate again to remedy the confusion, which has little effect. Diocletian died in his palace in 313.
Names successive
- Born under the name Diocles
- 284 , accesses the Empire: Imperator Caesar Gaius Aurelius Valerius Pius Felix Invictus Augustus Diocletianus
- 285 , receives the nicknames Germanicus Maximus Maximus Sarmaticus
- 286 , took the nickname Jovius: Imperator Caesar Gaius Aurelius Valerius Pius Felix Invictus Augustus Diocletianus Germanicus Maximus and Maximus Sarmaticus Imperator Caesar in 286 Gaius Valerius Aurelius Pius Felix Invictus Augustus Diocletianus Germanicus Maximus Maximus Sarmaticus Jovius
- 295 , receives the nickname Maximus persicus
- 297 , receives the nicknames Britannicus Maximus Maximus Carpicus
- 298 , receives the nickname Maximus Medicus Maximus Armenicus Adiabenicus Maximus
- 313 , Titulature to his death: Imperator Caesar Gaius Aurelius Valerius Pius Felix Invictus Augustus Diocletianus Germanicus Maximus IV persicus VII Sarmaticus Maximus Maximus II Britannicus Maximus Maximus Carpicus Armenicus Maximus Medicus Maximus Adiabenicus Maximus, Pontifex Maximus, Jovius, Tribuniciae potestatis XXII, Consul X Imperator XXI, Pater Patriae
Bibliography
- Bernard Remy, Diocletian and Tetrarchy, " What do I know? ", PUF , Paris , 1998 ;
- Stephen Williams, Diocletian, the revival of Rome Infolio Editions, 2006 ( ISBN 2884742085 )
See also
| Preceded by: | According to: | Followed by: |
|---|---|---|
| Carin ( 283 - 285 ) | First Tetrarchy ( 285 / 293 - 305 ) August : Diocletian Maximian Hercules | Tetrarchy second ( 305 - 306 ) August : Constantius and Galerius |
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