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Message:: [QUOTE="Sallent, post: 2304513, member: 76194"]In 284 CE the affable but weak Emperor Numerian died under mysterious circumstances while returning from campaign in the East. His retinue sought to hide his death, which was probably due to natural causes from the strain of campaigning. When his death was discovered, Diocletian (Commander of the Calvary Guard of the Imperial Bodyguards) accused Numerian's retinue of having killed the Emperor, and was quickly proclaimed Augustus by the troops. Afterwards, Diocletian turned his attention to the tyrant Carinus, co-Emperor and brother of Numerian. After either defeating Carinus in battle, or after Carinus' assassination by a bodyguard (accounts differ), Diocletian was proclaimed sole ruler of the Roman world. None of the above is anything new. In fact, it was pretty standard for the period of the preceeding 40+ years. During that time, Emperors came to power and were shortly assassinated, killed by rivals, killed in battle, captured by foreign powers, or died mysteriously. However, Diocletian was determined to be different. He knew that his survival depended on being a new Emperor and ushering in a new type of Empire. END OF THE PRINCIPATE AND BEGINNING OF THE DOMINATE Diocletian reorganized the weakened Empire and introduced a new class of bureaucratic officials, militarized the government to an extent never seen before, created a new image for the Emperor as that of a king-like figure (no more pretence that the Emperor was simply the 'First Citizen'), a new tax system designed to fill the empty coffers of the Empire, and recognizing the perils of a sole man holding onto power, appointed his military colleague, Maximian, as co-Augustus. Together, they were a well oiled machine who worked in perfect unison to shore up the borders of the East and West, and revitalize the Empire. They were as two heads of the same body. Nowhere is this special and perfect union more apparent than in these two coins: [ATTACH=full]463331[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]463332[/ATTACH] Two Augustus, One Empire, One Army, One well-coordinated set of goals and policies. Together, the Augustus of the West and East would appoint two Caesars to assist them. This sharing of power, known as The Tetrarchy, stabilized the Empire and brought an end to the chaos of the third century. Furthermore, Diocletian and Maximian would go on to set a first in Imperial history: First two Emperors to retire voluntarily from power. Naturally, like the well oiled machine they were, they retired on the same day. While The Tetrarchy did not survive for long, Diocletian lived out the rest of his life in peace and tranquility. The reorganization of the military, the creation of  bureaucratic class and a more efficient tax system, allowed the Empire to weather many storms and stay relatively stable for another 100 years after his retirement. Unfortunately Maximian was not as content with retirement and came out of his civilian life twice to attempt to usurp Imperial power. The second time was against his son in law, Constantine The Great, who gave Maximian the option of committing suicide and damned his memory after his death. [ATTACH=full]463337[/ATTACH]Constantine The Great, son in law of Maximian and first Christian Emperor Constantine would go on to keep the model of government of Diocletian intact, minus two changes: The first one relatively minor and temporary: One Empire, One emperor. The second change would be of monumental significance: One Empire, One God! Constantine would usher in 1,700+ years of Christianity in the western world. *I used the pictures above from the seller, JA, as I just bought the Maximian and Diocletian coins today. [/QUOTE]

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