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biography
| name: |
Diocletian
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in full Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus
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pronunciation:
[diyokleeshn]
| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (245–316)
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| biography:
| Roman emperor (284–305), a Dalmatian of humble birth, born in Diocles. He rose through the ranks of the army to become the greatest of the soldier emperors of the 3rd-c. He saw the answer to the empire's problems in a division of power at the top and a re-organization of the provincial structure below. In 286 the empire was split in two, with Diocletian retaining the East, and Maximian, a loyal friend, taking the West. Further refinement followed in 293 when, under the famous tetrarchy, the empire was divided into four. Towards the end of his reign he initiated a fierce persecution of Christians throughout the empire. He abdicated in 305. |
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