Diocletian and the Tetrarchy Flashcards
How many emperors ruled during the Crisis of the 3rd Century?
51 emperors ruled between 235-284 CE, averaging almost one emperor per year.
What were the military challenges during the Crisis of the 3rd Century?
The empire struggled to reunite after the death of Alexander Severus, focusing on defending Roman territories from invading forces.
What is meant by the term “soldier emperors” during the Crisis of the 3rd Century?
It refers to a period where military leaders, often soldiers, rose to power and ruled as emperors.
What was the nature of power-sharing during the Crisis of the 3rd Century?
Emperors like Augustus and Caesar ruled side by side, often without any familial relationship, leading to decentralized rule.
How did Carus become emperor, and what happened to him?
Carus was elevated by the army after Emperor Probus’ death
He went to fight the Persians but was struck by lightning or possibly assassinated
How did Diocletian become emperor?
After the death of Numerian, Diocletian was elected emperor by the army defeating Carinus in battle at the River Marcus
He killed the Praetorian Prefect, Opera, to take control.
Where was Diocletian born, and what was his background?
Salonae, Dalmatia, to a freedman’s scribe.
When did Diocletian elevate Maximian, and what title did he give him?
Diocletian elevated Maximian to Caesar
Maximian became Augustus, sharing power with Diocletian.
Where was Maximian from, and what was his role?
Maximian was born in Simius, Pannonia
He became Diocletian’s right-hand man and co-ruler of the Roman Empire.
How did Diocletian and Maximian share power?
Diocletian (Jupiter) and Maximian (Hercules) ruled as equals, with Diocletian as the senior emperor, and each ruled their respective parts of the empire.
How did Diocletian and Maximian legitimize their rule?
They associated themselves with the gods Jupiter and Hercules, symbolizing their divine right to rule.
What was the Tetrarchy, and how was it structured?
he Tetrarchy divided the empire into four parts:
two Augusti (Diocletian and Maximian)
two Caesars (Galerius and Constantius Chlorus).
Who were Galerius and Constantius Chlorus, and what were their roles in the Tetrarchy?
Galerius became Caesar in the East, while Constantius Chlorus became Caesar in the West.
They were married to the daughters of their respective Augusti to strengthen dynastic ties.
What was the rebellion led by Carausius and Allectus?
Carausius, a Roman general, rebelled controlling the northern part of the empire (Belgium, Netherlands, northern France, and Britain) until 293 CE, when Allectus succeeded him.
How did Carausius portray himself in his coins?
Carausius minted coins depicting himself as an equal ruler to Diocletian and Maximian, with the inscription “PAX AUGUSTI” (Peace of the Augusti).
What was the territorial division under the Tetrarchy?
Diocletian ruled the East, with centers around Byzantium and Nicomedia, while Maximian ruled the West, centered around Trier and Mediolanum (Milan).
How did the status of Rome change under the Tetrarchy?
Rome lost its special status, and imperial activity moved away from the city, with emperors residing in other provincial capitals like Milan, Nicomedia, and Aquileia.
What new imperial palaces were established under the Tetrarchy?
New imperial palaces were built in cities such as Milan, Nicomedia, Aquileia, and Sirmium
How did the basilica come to be used during the Tetrarchy?
The basilica became a central space for public business, moving governmental activities out of religious spaces like temples and bathhouses.
How often did Diocletian visit Rome during his reign?
Diocletian visited Rome twice, but he preferred to govern from other locations.
What was the military presence like in Rome under the Tetrarchy?
Rome’s military presence declined, and the city had fewer praetorians and less direct imperial attention compared to other areas of the empire.
What is the Arch of Diocletian?
built by Diocletian or maybe tetrarchs
aka Noah’s Arch
Taken down by pop for building materials
Why was the Arch of Diocletian torn down?
The arch was in the way of horse races on the Via del Corso and was removed to clear the space.
It was also taken down due to a lack of resources and the reuse of older materials in the city.
What is the significance of the Curia?
The Curia, the Senate house in Rome, was destroyed in a fire in 283 CE and rebuilt by Diocletian.
It symbolized the cooperation between the emperors and the Senate, and its reconstruction was important despite Diocletian not being present to oversee it.
