At first, Gaius Diocletianus (243-313) is the Latin name of a common soldier with the Greek name – Diocles. Later, he become Roman Emperor Diocletian. Also, he was born in the nearest vicinity of Salona, then the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia.
Furthermore, he was proclaimed Roman Emperor on 20.11.284.
Namely, historical sources say that Diocletian, as a young officer, told a Gallic waitress when she complained about the small tip, that he would pay better when he became emperor. However, she replied:
“Don’t joke, because you will truly become emperor when you kill a boar“.
After Diocletian was out hunting whenever he had the opportunity. He used to say: “I kill boars all the time, but others eat them”.
At the time Emperor Numerian was assassinated in 284 near Nicomedia by the city prefect Flavius Aperus. In that time Nicomedia was the capital of the Roman Empire. Therefore Diocletian, then the commander of the emperor’s bodyguard, pierced the emperor’s murderer with the same spear in front of the entire army, shouting: “At last I have killed the fatal boar”.
In fact, Aperus in Latin means boar.
Nevertheless, he managed to rule for two decades and live a long retirement after his abdication. Thanks to him, the Empire was saved, at least in the East. Even more, his reign was marked by numerous innovations and reforms.
Also he introduced the rule of four ,so called tetrarchy. Furthermore, he appointed his friend Maximian as co-ruler, elevated him to the honor of Augustus and handed over the western part of the empire to him to govern. Namely, the seat of his administration was in Milan.
On the other hand, Roman Emperor Diocletian continued to directly govern the Asian part of the empire and Egypt from city of Nicomedia. In meanwhile, the capital on the western coast of Asia Minor.
State problems required that the two Augusti share power with two Caesars. For that reason, they were forced to leave their wives and marry their daughters. Galerius, nicknamed Armentarius after his original occupation as a shepherd, married Diocletian’s daughter Valeria. Constantius, nicknamed Chlorus, because of his pale complexion, married Theodora, Maximian’s stepdaughter.
To clarify, the tetrarchs were loyal to Diocletian in every way. Although he was the oldest, he outlived the other three.
On the north wall of the Diocletan’s Palace above the Golden Gate, there are pedestals, which are believed to have been erected by statues of the tetrarchs, who probably perished in the destruction of all visible signs of the reign of one of the greatest persecutors of Christians.
Moreover, he secured the state borders, carried out a new territorial division of the empire, separated the military from the civil administration. Then he rearranged the internal organization of the army and the structure of the state bureaucracy.
To emphasize, he issued a decree on price limits, in order to prevent inflation that financially destabilized the empire. From that reason he determined the price of certain services, e.g. masons, mosaic makers, lawyers.
All in all, the best paid were lawyers and teachers of rhetoric. Is there a lawyer here? I don’t know how you live, but in the Roman Empire you would have become very rich? But history says that this decree was not a success. However he regulated the monetary and tax system, introducing a more efficient way of collecting taxes, and it is truly the greatest success in financial reforms.
Finnaly, he abolished the previous rights of the Senate, and Rome ceased to be the capital.
Although he was initially tolerant of the Christian faith, in 303 he issued an edict in Nicomedia, banning it, which caused many executions and confiscation of property.
Namely, on 01.05. 305. Roman Emperor Diocletian abdicated, and forced Maximian to do the same, and retreated to the Palace. It is assumed that the reason for the abdication were rheumatism, arthritis and finally a stroke, which Diocletian was able to treat at the sulfur springs located next to the Palace.
To illustrate, between the central columns of the Prothiron, on the main square Peristyle was an enclosed imperial loggia. When the emperor appeared in his loggia, all present would lie down on the ground to pay homage.
Namely, Roman Emperor Diocletian proclaimed himself Jovius, the son of Jupiter, and demanded that he be worshiped as a deity. Furthermore Diocletian introduced an absolutist monarchy based on the Persian model. Surprisingly,he wore a laurel wreath on his head, and clothing was purple, following the example of the Eastern emperor. In meanwhile Roman Emperor Diocletian made purple the imperial color, and no one but the emperor could wear it. Seashells, known as Hercules’ clubs (purple snails), served as a source of purple for dyeing textiles. Is someone dressed in red? Thank goodness you aren’t, otherwise you would be in prison or headless.
Moreover, the red color of granite columns emphasizes the ceremonial function of the Peristyle square. In addition, when Emperor Diocletian appeared in Rome in a red robe adorned with pearls and precious stones, resembling a decorated Christmas tree, the inhabitants of Rome were shocked.
The Roman emperor usually wore an elegant white robe with gold details.
After all, the meeting of Augustus and their Caesars was organized in Carnuntum. They prayed for Diocletian’s return to the throne. But he replied: “If you knew what kind of cabbage grows in my garden in Dalmatia, you would never invite me!”
In summary, he wanted no longer to be emperor. Also, he did not regret his abdication. The Roman soldiers knew how rich cabbage is in vitamin C and how important it is in the diet.
He didn’t talk about roses, but about cabbage.
On the tours Private walking tour Split and Walking tour Split -regular Roman Emperor Diocletian, his life and rule are popular topic.
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