Diocletian’s illness and Galerius’ Grab for Power
With the execution of his plan well underway, Diocletian set out to Rome to celebrate his twentieth anniversary as emperor. But Rome, a city whose people held little respect for supreme authority, was not enthused, so he abruptly left the city to celebrate in Ravenna. From there, he joined with Galerius and engaged in a campaign against Carpi. While in Carpi, Diocletian contracted an illness that steadily worsened eventually confining him to be carried in a litter. He traveled to his palace in Nicomedia and remained there three months. At the end of the three months, in December 304, he appeared in public to dedicate the opening of a circus in Nicomedia. Soon after the ceremonies ended, he collapsed and was resigned to his palace for the rest of the winter. Rumors spread quickly that Diocletian had died and that the news was being kept secret until Galerius arrived to assume power. When Diocletian remerged to the public in March 305, he was so deformed by his illness he was barley recognizable.
Within a few days, Galerius arrived at the palace prepared to force Diocletian to abdicate. He had just done the same to Maximian who under threat of civil war was forced to step down. Approaching him gently, Galerius strove to convince Diocletian that his physical condition was not best for the commonwealth. Diocletian feared stepping down from power because he believed he had certainly obtained many enemies over the years, so Galerius suggested that Diocletian fill his imperial office with compliant men. Feeling the relentless pressure, and learning previously from Maximian that Galerius was augmenting his army, he burst into tears and said, “Be it as you will.“1
It was procedure that Caesars be chosen by common consent, so Diocletian called an assembly of representatives from various regions. Addressing them with tears, he informed the assembly that due to his physical health he was abdicating and passing his duty as emperor to someone more fit to enact the duties of that office. The obvious and expected choices were Maxentius and Constantine, the sons of emperors Maximian and Constantinus. Surprisingly, what was expected was not to be so.
Galerius protested the choice of Maxentius claiming that he does not deserve the office because he treated him with contumely, and worried what he might do if he received power as emperor. As far as Constantine, Galerius accused him of being amiable. He believed that Constantine would rule after the peoples will with mild virtues that would surpass his father’s. Neither of these situations proved comfortable for Galerius who wanted someone who shared his inclinations and judgment. When Diocletian asked “Whom then shall we appoint?” Galerius answered “Severus.” But Diocletian protested calling Severus a drunkard. Galerius defended him and informed Diocletian that he had already sent him to Maximian to receive the title. Diocletian could do little else but consent.
Diocletian asked Galerius whom he suggests to fill the last vacancy in the tetrarch and Galerius, looking out over the assembly pointed to Maximinus. Maximinus was the name Galerius gave to his sister’s son Daia whom he had adopted as his own son for this very purpose. Diocletian, having given up his challenges, rebuked Galerius saying, “Then you look to it, who are about to assume the administration of the empire: as for me, while I continued emperor, long and diligent have been my labors in providing for the security of the commonweal; and now, should anything disastrous ensue, the blame will not be mine.“2
Diocletian and Galerius went in procession to the place where twenty-one years earlier Diocletian received his title, three miles outside of Nicomedia where a statue of the Roman god Jupiter stood. There they prepared to announce their decision to the assembly. The crowd looked to Constantine, who was standing among the multitude, as the certain choice to receive the honor, but Diocletian proclaimed Severus and Maximinus as their selection. The crowd was stunned! Many wondered if perhaps Constantine had received the name Maximinus because no one knew who he was, but all doubt was put to rest when Galerius waved Constantine aside and motioned for Maximinus to come forward.
There can be no doubt as to Galerius’ motives. Maximinus was a herdsman not long before his uncle enlisted him as a common solder. Now, as a puppet at the end of Galerius’ string, Maximinus was prepared to enact Galerius’ evil persecutions on the Christians without hesitation.
- Lactantius, De Mortibus Persecutorum 18
- Lactantius, De Mortibus Persecutorum 18
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