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[[Image:Diocletian.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Diocletian]]

[[Image:Diocletian.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Diocletian]]

'''Diocletian''' (full name: ''Imperator Caesar Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus Augustus''<ref>http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/diocletian/i.html</ref>; A.D. 244 - A.D. 311) was Emperor of [[Roman Empire|Rome]] from A.D. 284-305. He was emperor [[Carus]]'s commander of cavalry, and defeated the emperor's son [[Carinus]] who had claimed the title, too.   He attempted to destroy the Christian faith by burning the scriptures. He was the last of the [[Barracks Emperor]]s who used the army to seize power.  He also forbade worship and arrested clergy as well as insisting on sacrifices to the cult of the Emperor. He martyred hundreds of Christians from Europe to North Africa.<ref>http://www.amerisearch.net/index.php?date=2004-05-01&view=View</ref>

'''Diocletian''' (full name: ''Imperator Caesar Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus Augustus''<ref>http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/diocletian/i.html</ref>; A.D. 244 – A.D. 311) was Emperor of [[Roman Empire|Rome]] from A.D. 284 to 305. He was emperor [[Carus]]'s commander of cavalry and defeated the emperor's son [[Carinus]] who had claimed the title, too. He attempted to destroy the Christian faith by burning the scriptures. He was the last of the [[Barracks Emperor]]s who used the army to seize power.  He also forbade worship and arrested clergy as well as insisting on sacrifices to the cult of the Emperor. He martyred hundreds of Christians from Europe to North Africa.<ref>http://www.amerisearch.net/index.php?date=2004-05-01&view=View</ref>

==Attempts at reform==

==Attempts at reform==

==Failure of succession==

==Failure of succession==

Diocletian abdicated due to a stomach illness in A.D. 305.  He lived long enough to see that the system that he set up for orderly succession had failed as open warfare broke out soon after he gave up power.

Diocletian abdicated due to a stomach illness in A.D. 305.  He lived long enough to see that the system that he set up for orderly succession had failed as open warfare broke out soon after he gave up power.

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* Southern, Pat. ''The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine'' (2001) covers 193-337 AD [http://www.questia.com/read/107587528?title=The%20Roman%20Empire%20from%20Severus%20to%20Constantine online edition]

* Southern, Pat. ''The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine'' (2001) covers 193-337 AD [http://www.questia.com/read/107587528?title=The%20Roman%20Empire%20from%20Severus%20to%20Constantine online edition]