12/14/2014
EBSCOhost
Record: 1
Title: Diocletian.
Source: Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition. Q1 2014, p1­1. 1p.
Document Type: Biography
Abstract: Diocletian (Caius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus) (dī′әklē′shәn),
245–313, Roman emperor (284–305), b. near Salona, Dalmatia
(the modern Split, Croatia). Of humble birth, he obtained high
military command under Probus and Aurelian and fought under
Carus in Persia. The army proclaimed him emperor after the
death of Numerian, and he became sole ruler when Carinus, joint
emperor with Numerian, was murdered by his own officers. In
order to repel the Germans he appointed Maximian augustus
(286) and Constantius I and Galerius caesars (293). The four
rulers had their respective capitals at Nicomedia, Mediolanum
(modern Milan), Treveri (modern Trier), and Sirmium. In
Diocletian's reign Britain was restored (296) to the empire, the
Persians were subjugated (298), and the Marcomanni were
expelled from the empire. Diocletian was the first to divide the
empire formally and to set up a genuine autocracy with no
theoretical checks. The Roman senate became a municipal
council and all vestiges of Republican institutions disappeared. His
economic reforms included an attempt to restore the gold standard
and the Edict of Diocletian (301), an economic measure to
regulate prices and wages. Its effects, however, proved ruinous to
agriculture and the markets. The persecution of the Christians in
the latter part of his reign was a course to which he had been
instigated by Galerius. Diocletian abdicated (305), and Maximian
resigned at the same time. Diocletian retired to his castle at
Salona, from which he saw his system fail as his successors
began to quarrel among themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM
PUBLISHER]
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Lexile: 1220
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12/14/2014
EBSCOhost
Full Text Word Count: 250
ISBN: 9780787650155
Accession Number: 39002899
Database: MasterFILE Premier
Diocletian Diocletian (Caius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus) (dī′әklē′shәn), 245–313, Roman emperor (284–305), b.
near Salona, Dalmatia (the modern Split, Croatia). Of humble birth, he obtained high military command
under Probus and Aurelian and fought under Carus in Persia. The army proclaimed him emperor after the
death of Numerian, and he became sole ruler when Carinus, joint emperor with Numerian, was murdered
by his own officers. In order to repel the Germans he appointed Maximian augustus (286) and
Constantius I and Galerius caesars (293). The four rulers had their respective capitals at Nicomedia,
Mediolanum (modern Milan), Treveri (modern Trier), and Sirmium. In Diocletian's reign Britain was
restored (296) to the empire, the Persians were subjugated (298), and the Marcomanni were expelled
from the empire. Diocletian was the first to divide the empire formally and to set up a genuine autocracy
with no theoretical checks. The Roman senate became a municipal council and all vestiges of Republican
institutions disappeared. His economic reforms included an attempt to restore the gold standard and the
Edict of Diocletian (301), an economic measure to regulate prices and wages. Its effects, however,
proved ruinous to agriculture and the markets. The persecution of the Christians in the latter part of his
reign was a course to which he had been instigated by Galerius. Diocletian abdicated (305), and
Maximian resigned at the same time. Diocletian retired to his castle at Salona, from which he saw his
system fail as his successors began to quarrel among themselves.
Copyright of Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition is the property of Columbia University Press
and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright
holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual
use.
http://mail2.trinitysem.edu:2080/ehost/delivery?sid=60860a37­2672­43f1­9330­580e362bd506%40sessionmgr115&vid=108&hid=109&ReturnUrl=http%3a%2f%…
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