Everything Everywhere Daily Emperor Diocletian
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May 19, 2025 The podcast dives into the tumultuous mid-3rd century Roman Empire, highlighting Emperor Diocletian's transformative role. It explores his introduction of the Tetrarchy which centralized power and restored order amid chaos. Diocletian's ambitious economic reforms, including a new coinage system and the Edict on Maximum Prices, aimed to stabilize the economy, yet sparked a black market. The discussion also covers his autocratic leadership, persecution of Christians, and his unexpected abdication that shaped Rome's future.
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Crisis Before Diocletian's Rule
- The crisis of the third century was a period of intense turmoil with rapid emperor turnovers, invasions, economic collapse, and fragmentation.
- This chaos nearly destroyed the empire until Diocletian's rise brought crucial stability and reforms.
Tetrarchy Reformed Imperial Rule
- Diocletian solved governance problems by creating the Tetrarchy with two senior emperors and two juniors.
- This division allowed more manageable rule and addressed succession and size issues of the empire.
Administrative Overhaul
- Diocletian reorganized provinces, doubling them and grouping into dioceses led by vicars.
- He separated military and civil authority to weaken potential rebel governors and expanded bureaucracy for efficiency.