Diocletian

Diocletian (c 245-c 284 after Emperor Numerian was executed, at which time he instituted a tetrarchy in order to bring the vast Roman Empire under control. It consisted of two "Augusti," (Diocletian and Maximian), and each had their own "Caesar," (Constantius and Galerius). Though Diocletian and Maximian were co-emperors, Diocletian retained most of the power. After securing the boundaries of the empire, Diocletian tried to revive the ancient pagan religion of Rome; he believed that uniting the country under one religion would make it stronger. This belief led him to enact four edicts of persecution against the Christians in 303, calling for the destruction of Christian places of worship and books, the humiliation of Christian clergy, and the execution of clerics and Christians who did not offer sacrifice to Roman gods. These edicts, however, only inflamed the spread of Christianity. Diocletian's persecution was the last to take place in Church history. In 305, Diocletian abdicated the throne due to illness.

Heidi Boener