Who was Diocletian?
Q: Who was Diocletian?
A: Diocletian (Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus) was a Roman Emperor from 20 November 284 to 11 May 305. He was born in Dalmatia of poor parents.
Q: What period did he end?
A: Diocletian ended the period known as the Crisis of the Third Century (235–284).
Q: How did he handle religion?
A: He persecuted Christians, crucifying more than any other emperor, and imposed the traditional polytheistic religion of the Romans.
Q: What did he do to address economic issues?
A: Recognizing a gold drain from the western Mediterranean to the east, he tried to stop inflation by legislation and decreed that coins could only be made of gold or silver. He also improved the tax system.
Q: How did he change military practices?
A: Diocletian changed army practices from garrison defense to small outposts on borders with local soldiers who farmed and lived with their families in villages. They lit signal fires on towers to warn against possible invasions by Germans across borders, and soldiers were paid regular wages for their services. He also allowed them to move up through ranks based on years of service and actions taken in battle.
