Introduction

When diocletian and maximian stepped aside in three o five a d there was hope that their abdication would be merely the first in a long line of voluntary imperial retirements going forward. The dream was essentially for future tetrarchs to rule for ten years as a caesar, and then for another ten years as an augustus before abdicating in favor of their junior colleagues which would begin the whole cycle over again. That the tetrarchy would eventually fall apart is perhaps predictable that it woll beginto apart after less than a year. However, came as a bit of a surprise when maxentius found himself not really being groomed for much of anything