Tetrarchy, Constantine, And The Fall of The West Flashcards
How long did Diocletian reign for?
284-305 A.D
When did Diocletian begin his reign?
284 A.D.
Diocletian was a peasant from what part of Illyricum?
Dalmatia
Diocletian’s reign marks the end of what era?
Era of the Barrack Emperors
In what year did Diocletian split the Roman Empire into a tetrachy (a four person rule, a ruler for each of the four new sections)?
293 A.D.
Two of the leaders in the Tetrachy would hold a traditional imperial title, while another two would hold a different traditional imperial title. What were these two titles?
two of them holding the title of Augustus, two of them holding the title of Caesar
Who were the original tetrachs?
Diocletian, Galerius, Maximian, and Constantius Chlorus (father of Constantine the Great)
What was Diocletian’s capital?
Nicomedia
What was Galerius’s capital?
Sirmium
What was Maximian’s capital?
Mediolanum
What was Constantius Chlorus’s capital?
Augustus Treverorum
Who was Augustus in the East?
Diocletian
Who was Augustus’s Caesar in the East?
Galerius
Who was the last emperor to sack Ctesiphon?
Galerius
Who did Galerius fight against?
Parthia
What king did Galerius defeat in order for him to sack Ctesiphon
King Narses
In what year did Galerius sack Ctesiphon?
297 A.D.
Who was Augustus in the West?
Maximian
In what year did Maximian became Augustus in the West?
286 A.D.
Who was Maximian’s Caesar in the West?
Constantius Chlorus
Who declared themselves emperor in Britain from 287-293 A.D?
M. Aurelius Mausaeus Carausius
From what years did M. Aurelius Mausaeus Carausius declare himself emperor of Britain?
287-293 A.D.
Who replaced M. Aurelius Mausaeus Carausius as emperor in Britain?
Allectus
When was Allectus made emperor in Britain?
293 A.D.
In what year did Constantius Chlorus defeat Allectus, restoring Britain?
296 A.D.
Diocletian dealt with what uprising against his rule in Egypt (296-7 A.D.)?
Domitius Domitianus and Aurelius Achilleus
In what years did the uprising of Domitius Domitianus and Aurelius Achilleus take place?
296-7 A.D.
Who was Diocletian’s patron god?
Jove (Jupiter)
Who was Maximian’s patron god?
Hercules
What edict did Diocletian establish in 301 A.D.?
Edict On Maximum Prices
When did Diocletian establish his Edict On Maximum Prices?
301 A.D.
What baths did Diocletian establish?
Baths of Diocletian
Diocletian is known for his prosecution of what group?
Christians
When did Diocletian and Maximian jointly abdicate from the throne?
May 1st, 305 A.D.
Where did Diocletian retire to?
Salona (Split), modern-day Croatia
Who abdicated from the throne jointly with Diocletian?
Maximian
How long was Constantius Chlorus Augustus in the West after the resignation of Maximian?
305-306 A.D.
Who became Augustus in the West after the resignation of Maximian?
Constantius Chlorus Augustus
How long did Galerius reign as Augustus in the East after the abdication of Diocletian?
305-311 A.D.
Who became Augustus in the East after Diocletian abdicated from the throne?
Galerius
Who passed the Edict of Toleration in 311 A.D. on their deathbed?
Galerius
When was the Edict of Toleration established?
311 A.D.
What did the Edict of Toleration end?
Prosecution of Christians
What happened when Maximian tired to reclaim the throne?
Tries to regain throne with and from son Maxentius and also against Constantine, who forces his (Maximian’s) suicide in 310
How long did Maxentius rule as Caesar in the West?
306-312 A.D.
Maxentius was the son of whom?
Maximian
Who opposed Maxentius coming to the throne as Caesar?
Constantine and Severus II
Who made Maxentius Caesar in the West after the death of Severus the Second in 307 A.D.?
His father Maximian
Who was made Augustus in west by Galerius to oppose Maxentius?
Licinius
Licinius was Augustus in the west for how long?
308-311 A.D.
After the death of whom was Licinius made Augustus in the east?
Galerius
When did Galerius die?
311 A.D.
How long was Licinius Augustus in the east?
311 A.D.- 313 A.D.
Who did Licinius defeated to become sole emperor of the empire in 313 A.D.?
Maximinus Daia
When was Licinius made sole emperor?
313 A.D.
Licinius’s sole office of emperor last how long for him?
313-323 A.D.
Constantine the First is also commonly know as whom?
Constantine The Great
How long did Constantine rule for?
306-337 A.D.
When did Constantine the Great begin his reign?
306 A.D.
Who were the parents of Constantine the Great?
Constantius Chlorus and Helena
Upon who’s death was Constantine the Great made emperor?
Constantius Chlorus’s, his father’s
Where was Constantine the Great first proclaimed emperor in 306 B.C.?
Eboracum (York)
What emperor, famous for his successful action against the Goths, is Constantine the Great proclaimed to be a descendant of?
Claudius Gothicus
When did Constantine the Great defeat Maxentius (son of Maximian)?
Milvian Bridge in 312 A.D.
In what year did Constantine the Great defeat Maxentius (son of Maximian)?
312 A.D.
Who did Constantine the Great defeat at Milvian Bridge in 312 A.D.?
Maxentius (son of Maximian)
Describe the vision Constantine the Great had before the battle at Milvian Bridge?
Sometime before the battle, legend has it he looked up to the sun and saw a cross of light above it, and with it the Greek words “Εν Τούτῳ Νίκα”, En toutō níka, usually translated into Latin as “in hoc signo vinces,” both phrases have the literal meaning “In this sign, you shall conquer;”
What words did Constantine the Great see on the cross in his vision?
“Εν Τούτῳ Νίκα”, En toutō níka, usually translated into Latin as “in hoc signo vinces,” both phrases have the literal meaning “In this sign, you shall conquer;”
After the battle at the Mivian Bridge, what part of the empire did Constantine the Great rule?
full control of the west
After the battle at the Mivian Bridge, what part of the empire did Licinius rule?
control of the east
In what year did Constantine the Great defeat Licinius, and become sole emperor of the empire?
324 A.D. at Adrianople and ultimately at Chrysopolis
In what battle was Licinius ultimately defeated?
Chrysopolis
In what battles were Licinius defeated by Constantine the Great?
324 A.D. at Adrianople and ultimately at Chrysopolis
What edict did Constantine the Great issue, legalizing Christianity throughout the Empire in 313 A.D.?
Edict of Milan
In what year was the Edict of Milan passed?
313 A.D.
What did the Edict of Milan do?
legalized Christianity throughout the Empire
In what year was the council of Nicaea held?
325 A.D.
The council of Nicaea resolved what controversy?
Arian controversy
Arians believes that Jesus was not God, instead he was what?
Subordinate to God, rather than equal to the Holy Ghost and God the Father
Who was an Arian?
Arius of Alexandria
Who opposed Arian?
Athanasius of Alexandria
The Council of Nicaea decided who was wrong?
Arius
What came out of the Council of Nicaea?
The Nicene Creed (Apostles’ Creed)
Who was Constantine the Great’s eldest son by his first wife, Minervina?
Crispus
Who was Minervina?
Constantine the Great’s first wife?
When did Constantine the Great have Crispus executed?
326 A.D.
Whom did Constantine the Great execute in 326 A.D.?
Crispus and also Fausta, his second wife
Who was Constantine the Greats second wife?
Fausta,
When did Constantinople (former Byzantium, modern Istanbul) become the capital of the empire?
330 A.D.
What city was made capital of the empire in 330
A.D.?
Constantinople (former Byzantium, modern Istanbul)
Who was the first emperor to convert to Christianity?
Constantine the Great
When did Constantine the Great die?
337 A.D.
When was Constantine the Great baptized?
shortly before his death in 337 A.D.
After Constantine the Great’s death, what three sons of his split the empire between themselves?
Constantine II, Constans I, Constantius II
What sons did Constantine’s second wife, Fausta, give to him?
Constantine II, Constans I, Constantius II
How long did Constantine the Second reign for?
337–340 A.D.
What provinces did Constantine the Second recieve to rule?
Gaul, Britannia, Hispania, and Mauretania
Who defeated Constantine the Second in battle?
Constans I
Who reigned from 337-350 A.D?
Constans I
How long did Constans I reign for?
337-350 A.D
What provinces did Constans I recieve?
Italy, Africa, Illyricum, Pannonia, Macedonia, and Achaea
How did Constans I die?
assassinated
Who gave orders to assassinate Constans I?
Magnentius, a British and Frankish officer
How long did Constantius II reign for?
337-361 A.D.
Who received Constantinople, Thrace, Asia Minor,
Syria, Egypt, and Cyrenaica to rule?
Constantius II
Who did Constantius II fight against in 351 A.D.?
Mangnetius
Who killed themselves in 353 A.D. after being defeated by Constantius II?
Mangnetius
When did Constantius II die?
Died of illness on his way to battle his cousin Julian in the east.
How long did Julian reign for?
361-363 A.D
How was Julian related to Constantine the Great?
Nephew of Constantine the Great
Who was the last emperor of the Constantinian line?
Julian
Why is Julian known as the “Apostate”?
tried to restore paganism throughout the empire
Who tried to restore paganism throughout the empire?
Julian, the “Apostate”
What Persian ruler did Julian fight?
Shapur II
What group did Julian fight?
Persians
Who died of a spear wound said to have been thrown by a Christian?
Julian
How long did Jovian reign for?
363-364 A.D
How many months did Jovian reign for?
8 months
Who was Jovian?
General, unrelated to Constantine’s family who ruled for 8 months
Who negotiated a treaty with Shapur II?
Jovian
How was Jovian towards paganism?
Rescinded the pagan policies of Julian
The Battle of Adrianople (378 A.D.) was fought against whom?
Goths under Fritigern
Who led the Goths at the Battle of Adrianople?
Fritigern
In what year did the Battle of Adrianople take place in?
378 A.D.
The Battle of Adrianople was a crushing defeat for whom?
The Romans
What Roman died at the Battle of Adrianople?
Valens
Valens ruled where?
in the east
Where did Gratian rule?
in the west
How long did Gratian rule for?
375-383 A.D. in west
Gratian was the son of whom?
Valentinian I
Who convinced Gratian to renounce the title of pontifex maximus and remove the altar of victory?
St. Ambrose of Milan
Gratian was killed and defeated by whom?
usurper Magnus Maximus, commander in
Britain
What emperor was the son of Valentinian I and half-brother of Gratian?
Valentinian II
At what age was Valentinian II made co-Augustus in the west?
4 years of age (375 A.D.)
Who defeated and killed Valentinian II in 392 A.D.?
Frankish commander named Arbogast
After his defeat of Valentinian II in 392 A.D., Arbogast installed who as emperor?
Eugenius as emperor
How long did Theodosius I reign for in the east as co-Augustus?
379-392 A.D.
How long did Theodosius I reign for as emperor of the whole empire?
392-395 A.D.
Who was defeated at the Battle of the Frigidus River in 394 A.D.?
emperor Eugenius
Who won at the Battle of the Frigidus River?
Theodosius I
In what year did the Battle of the Frigidus River occur?
394 A.D.
Who was the last emperor to rule over both the west and the east?
Theodosius I
Theodosius I made what religion the official one of the state?
Christianity
Theodosius I closed all temples that were associated with what type of religion?
Paganism
What games did Theodosius I end?, because of their association with paganism?
Olympic games
Who was the bishop of Milan?
St. Ambrose
Theodosius I was forced to repent for what massacre by St Ambrose?
massacre at Thessalonica
When did Theodosius I die?
395 A.D.
Who were the sons and successors of Theodosius I?
Honorius and Arcadius
What son of Theodosius I ruled in the west?
Honorius
What son of Theodosius I ruled in the eat?
Arcadius
How long did Arcadius rule in the east for?
395-408 A.D.
How old was Arcadius when he became emperor?
17 or 18 years old
Who was Stilicho?
Flavius Stilicho was a high-ranking general in the Roman army who, for a time, became the most powerful man in the Western Roman Empire. He was half Vandal and married to the niece of Emperor Theodosius I.
Who was Arcadius’s corrupt Praetorian Prefect?
Rufinus
Who rivaled Stilicho?
Praetorian Prefect Rufinus
Who conspired to have Praetorian Prefect Rufinus killed?
Stilicho conspired with Gainas, an Ostrogoth, to have Rufinus killed
How long did Honorius reign in the West for?
395- 423 A.D.
How old was Honorius when he became emperor?
10 years old
Where did Honorius move the western capital to?
Ravenna
Who was Alaric?
King of the Visogoths
Where did Stilicho defeat Alaric?
the Battle of Pollentia (402 A.D.) and Battle of Verona (403 A.D.)
In what year did the Battle of Pollentia take place?
402 A.D.
In what year did the Battle of Verona take place?
403 A.D.
What was Stilicho’s military title?
magister utriusque militiae, master of both cavalry and infantry
In what year was Stilicho executed?
408 A.D.
Why did Honorius execute Stilicho?
charges of Stilicho colluding with Alaric
In what year did Alaric of the Visigoths sack the city Rome (first time Rome was sacked in 800 years since Brennus)?
August 24th, 410 A.D.
Who sacked the city of Rome on August 24th, 410 A.D.?
Alaric of the Visigoths
Who succeeded Aleric?
Ataulf
Who was taken captive by Aleric during his sack of Rome?
Galla Placidia, the daughter of Theodosius I and halfsister of Honorius
How long did Valentinian the Third rule for in the West?
425-455 A.D. in the west
Who were the parents of Valentinian the Third?
Galla Placidia and Constantius III
What general defeated Atilla the Hun at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains (Chalons) in 451 A.D?
Flavius Aetius
In what battle was Atilla the Hun defeated by Flavius Aetius in 451 A.D.?
the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains (Chalons)
In what year did the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains (Chalons) occur?
451 A.D.
Who was Valentinian the Third’s sister?
Honoria
What bishop convinced Attila to make peace with Rome, or to withdraw from Italy without carrying off Valentinian III’s sister, Honoria (453
A.D.)?
Bishop of Rome, Leo I
When did Bishop of Rome, Leo I convince Attila to make peace with Rome, or to withdraw from Italy without carrying off Valentinian III’s sister, Honoria?
453 A.D.
Why was general Flavius Aetius executed by Valentinian’s III?
Valentinian III wasunder the influence of Petronius Maximus and the chamberlain Heraclius (454 A.D.)
Who was the king of the Vandals?
Gaiseric
In what year did Gaiseric sack Carthage?
439 A.D.
What city did Gaiseric sack in 439 A.D.?
Carthage
When did Gaiseric sack and plunder Rome?
June 3rd, 455 A.D
Gaiseric abducted who during his sack of Rome on June 3rd, 455 A.D?
Valentinian III’s daughters, the younger Placidia and Eudocia
How long did Theodosius II reign in the east for?
408 A.D.-450 A.D. in the east
What women dominated Theodosius II’s rule?
his sister Pulcheria, and wife Aelia Eudoxia
What work compiled all the Romans laws passed since 312 A.D. into a book of law?
Codex Theodosianus by Theodosius II
What is the first university in the wolrd?
The Imperial University of Constantinople
Where was The Imperial University of Constantinople located?
Constantinople
Who founded The Imperial University of Constantinople
Theodosius II
In what year was The Imperial University of Constantinople founded?
425 A.D.
Theodosius II held the longest reign since whom?
Augustus
Theodosius II ruled what part of the empire?
The east
How did Theodosius II die?
riding incident (450 A.D.)
When did Theodosius II die?
450 A.D.
How did the eastern ruler Martian reign for?
450 A.D.-457 A.D.
How long did the eastern ruler Leo I rule for?
457-474 A.D.
Leo I’s attack on Gaiseric
a (failed) three-pronged attack on Gaiseric in 468 A.D. after he had obtained release of Eudoxia and Placidia the Younger.
How long did Zeno rule for in the east?
474-491 A.D.
Zeno ruled as emperor in the east after what part had already fallen?
the west
How long did the Eastern ruler Justinian rule for?
527 A.D.-565 A.D.
What law code, similar to that of Theodosius II, did Justinian pass?
Corpus Iuris Civilis
Who did Justinian send to attempt to reconquer the western Roman Empire?
Belisarius to try to reconquer the western empire
Who was Ricimer in the west?
grandson of the Visigothic Wallia, and an Arrian, Christian, placed several of these guys on the throne and was named magister utriusque militiae under Avitus
Who succeeded Ricimer in his position?
Gundobad, Ricimer’s Burgundian nephew, succeeded him in the same position (472 A.D.)
Who was the last western emperor of Rome?
Romulus Augustulus
When did Romulus Augustulus reign in the west?
475-476 A.D
Who placed Romulus Agustulus on the throne?
Orestes, the successor to Gundobad and father Romulus Augustulus, placed him on the throne
What was Orestes former position?
secretary to Attila the Hun
Who deposed of Romulus Agustulus?
German king Odoacer
When was Romulus Augustulus deposed?
September 476
Who was emperor in the east while Romulus Augustulus was emperor in the west?
Zeno
How was Odoacer killed?
Theoderic the Great (Ostrogoth) killed Odoacer at a banquet circa 493 A.D.
