1. Diocletian, Tetrarchy, and Constantine I
by Dena Dianati, Sam Rubin, Jake Shepard, and Gwyne Henke

2. Diocletian Background:
Dena
Diocletian
Background:
Full name: Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus Augustus
Birth name Diocles, born in 236 C.E.
Came from a low family, very humble birth

3. Diocletian prudent officer who sought victory rather than glory
when a new emperor, Carus, comes to power in 282, Diocletian falls under his favor
promoted from officer to count of the domestics, commander of the cavalry, and the imperial body guard

4. Diocletian later became a consulate through his favor
Carus killed in 284 and his two sons replaced him, however one of them, who was ruling in the East, Numerian, died mysteriously and Diocletian replaced him.
The son ruling in the west, Carinus, was also killed in a battle, and Diocletian took control of the entire empire.

5. Crisis in the Third Century
Jake and Sam
Crisis in the Third Century
Many barbarian revolts during Diocletian's reign
To make his wanted reforms, he had to divide the empire between two people
This resulted in Diocletian splitting the empire with Maximian and both of them had a sub-emperor to rule afterwards.
At the time Emperor Diocletian took the throne in 284 A.D., there was a huge problem with the barbarians outside Roman territory, a problem too big for Diocletian to handle alone. As a response to this problem, Diocletian appointed a man named Maximian as co-emperor to defend the western half of the empire, though Diocletian's orders still ranked above his own.

6. Tetrarchy: Division of the Empire
Green -- Diocletian
Purple -- Galerius
Yellow -- Maximian
Red -- Constantius
In 286CE Diocletian named Maximian as his coemperor (augustus). In 293CE each of the augusti appionts an assistant emperor (caesar). Diocletian chose Galerius. Maximian chose Constantius "Chlorus" ("pale" from his appearance). Diocletian would rule the East (Green w/ assitsance from Galerius (purple)), and Maximian would rule the west (Yellow with assistance from Constanntius (red)). The caesari were subordinates of the augusti, and all had to recognize the supreme rule of Diocletian.

7. Tetrarchy
The Tetrarchy was very successful militarily: revolts and barbarians put down
The Tetrarchy also introduced a new coinage system that halted the
economic decline
occurring before the
Tetrarchy was formed

8. End of the Tetrarchy
After Diocletian and Maximian resigned and Constantius died, the Tetrarchy began to fall apart
The sons of the former Tetrarchy members all vied for the 3 spots in a conflict that led to a civil war
The eventual winner of the civil war was Constantius' son....(see next slide)
After Diocletian and Maximian resigned and Constantius died, the new Tetrarchy was Galerius, Severus, Constantine, and Maxentius. However, Maxentius and some troops under his command forced Severus to advocate and eventually killed him. Licinius was chosen to replace Severus, but Maximian wanted to come out of retirement. This led to a long civil war for the leadership of the Roman Empire that ended when Constantine defeated Licinius and was declared emperor.

9. Constantine I 272 AD--337 AD Diocletian's death Ruled with Licinius
Gwyne
Constantine I
272 AD--337 AD
Diocletian's death
Father Constantius dies 306 AD
Ruled with Licinius
Licinius East, defeated 324
Converted to Christianity
"hoc signo victor eris"
Constantine came to power in 306 after his father Consantius's death. During his reign, Constantine would continue and finish most of Diocletian's changes, as well as adding several important new additions of his own. Constantine co-ruled with Licinius, with Licinius ruling East and Constantine ruling the West, until he defeated Licinius in battle in 324 and Constantine became the sole ruler of Rome, thus ending the tetrarchy. One of his most important acts was converting to Christianity after a supposed encounter with God, in which he saw a cross appear in the sky with the words, "hoc signo victor eris", or "by this sign you will conquer," and issuing the Edict of Milan, which demanded tolerance of every religion in the Roman Empire. He was tolerant of paganism in the realm, though at the end of his reign he became more vehemently Christian and began burning pagan temples.

10. Constantine I Constantinople Court system Organization of Rome
Economic
Defensive
"New Rome"
Court system
Eastern style
Organization of Rome
Praefectures, dioceses, provinces, cities
Military
Praetorian guard
Report to emperor
Constantine's other most famous and important reforms were in the capital city, the court system, the territorial organization, and the military. Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Constantinople in hopes that it would be an economic hub of business and trade, a better way to defend the entire empire and link the east and the west, and a center of art, architecture, and learning: the "New Rome." Constantine redid the courts in an Eastern style with an emperor surrounded by a large court who helped rule the empire and advise the emperor. Next, he split Rome into four praefectures--the East, Illyricum, Italy, and Gaul--with each one splitting into smaller parts, making Rome easier to rule and more connected. Finally, Constantine made it harder for military coups and civil wars to occur by destroying the praetorian guard, which often started conflicts, not giving governors military power, only civil power, and making all officers in charge of the army subordinates to the emperor himself, thereby taking away some of their power to start revolutions.

11. Constantine I Died 22 May 337 AD Good impacts Bad impacts
"13th apostle"
Good impacts
Strengthens Rome
Modern system of imperialism
Endorses Christianity
Bad impacts
Huge taxes
No set successor
Constantine died in 337 AD and was buried at Constantinople. Statues of the twelve apostles were put up around his tomb, thereby making Constantine's last act to declare himself the "thirteenth apostle." Constantine's rule had several positive effects on Rome; many of his decisions strengthened Rome, by dividing it into the east and the west he allowed it to hold up for hundreds of more years, and he endorsed and converted to Christianity, the first emperor to do so. Unfortunately, his huge court system and the creation of Constantinople required huge taxes which put enormous pressure on Roman peasants, and he didn't designate one clear successor, which meant that Rome was plunged into another period of chaos and civil war.

12. Review Diocletian ruled 284-305 AD Tetrarchy Constantine I
Invented the...
Tetrarchy
Which was ended by...
Constantine I
Who ruled from AD
Below
Left
Above

13. Bibliography Diocletian Constantine I
Constantine I
Herbermann, Charles, and Georg Grupp. "Constantine the Great." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company, Mar <
Kreis, Steven. "Constantine the Great, C " Constantine the Great, C N.p., 11 Oct Web. 28 Feb <
Morey, William C. Outlines of Roman History: For the Use of High Schools and Academies. New York: American Book, Print.
Pohlsander, Hans A. "Constantine I." Roman Emperors - DIR Constantine I. N.p., Web. 27 Feb <

14. Bibliography Tetrarchy
Garstang, David. "Tetrarchy of Diocletian." Tetrarchy of Diocletian. Accessed February 26,
King, Jay. "The Later Roman Empire: The Tetrarchy." The Later Roman Empire: The Tetrarchy Accessed February 26,
Lendering, Jona. "Tetrarchy." Tetrarchy. March 31, Accessed March 3,
Morey, William C. Outlines of Roman History: For the Use of High Schools and Academies. New York: American Book,