Chapters
| Names | Gaius Valerius Diocles |
|---|---|
| Ruled as | Imperator Caesar Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus Augustus |
| Reign | 20 November 284 – 1 May 305 CE |
| Born | 22 December 244 CE |
| Died | 3 December 311 CE |
Diocletian was born probably around 244 CE in Solina (Salona, now Croatia) as Gaius Valerius Diocles. His reign begins the period in Rome which we call dominate. It was basically an absolute monarchy based on an army and centralized bureaucracy. Diocletian completely gave up the apparent behavior of the republic under the principate.
Youth
According to contemporary historian Timothy Barnes, the exact date of Diocletian’s birth is December 22, 244 CE. Other historians, however, are skeptical about this claim.
Diocletian’s parents used to call him Diocles or Diocles Valerius. His parents were of low status, and Roman historians critical of Diocletian claimed that his father was a scribe or freedman of senator Anullinus. Diocletian was also said to have been a freedman himself. The Byzantine chronicler Ioannes Zonaras claimed that Diocletian was Dux Moesiae, commander in chief of the Lower Danube troops. Considered incredible – Historia Augusta mentions that Diocletian served in Gaul, which is however not confirmed by other sources and is rejected by modern historians. Much of Diocletian’s early life is unknown and remains a matter of guesswork. It is certain that Diocletian, in order to break out of a low position, had to seek the development of his career in the military.
Coming to power
When Emperor Carus died in the summer of CE 283, the unpopular sons Numerian and Carinus took his place. Carinus, upon the news of his father’s death, immediately went to Rome to strengthen his power, where he appeared in January 284 CE. His brother Numerian, fighting in the east with the Sassanid king Bahram II, first had to calm the situation in the troubled region. Unexpectedly, during the trip to Bithynia, the soldiers discovered that Emperor Numerian was dead, and his body had already been affected by a decay process in a litter covered with sand. The cause of his death is unknown. It was known that the emperor contracted eye inflammation in a desert region, which, however, could not be fatal.
Regardless of the circumstances, however, in November the soldiers and the command ordered the convening of a military council, which appointed Diocletian to succeed Numerian, despite his efforts to become the official of Numerian, Lucius Flavius Aper. On November 20, 284 CE the army in the east gathered on a hill 5 kilometers from Nicomedia (Asia Minor). The soldiers swore allegiance to New August and offered the purple which Diocletian accepted. The new ruler then raised his sword towards the sun and made a promise that he had nothing to do with Numerian’s death. He accused Aper of this deed, which he then personally killed in front of the legions. Immediately after Aper’s death, Diocletian changed his surname Diocles to the more Latin-sounding Diocletianus. Eventually his full name was Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus.
Competition with Carinus
Upon assuming office, Diocletian appointed himself and Lucius Caesonius