Diocletian and the Tetrarchy

by Roger Rees

Overview

This book aims to make accessible the sources and controversies concerning a key period in the history of the Roman Empire – the reign of Diocletian and its immediate aftermath. Diocletian was an emperor of unusual ambition, and his reign saw considerable military success, an experiment in collegiate government, a move towards provincial capitals away from Rome, a reorganisation of the administrative machinery of empire and its finances, and a committed project to persecute the Christians. In Part I, an introduction to Diocletian and the world of the late third century is followed by six thematic chapters covering a range of aspects of government and society under this emperor, including military, economic, religious and administrative affairs. These chapters discuss the original sources, highlight their strengths and weaknesses, and consider the main scholarly approaches to them. Throughout Part I there are regular cross references to the source material which is presented in Part II – this includes literary, archaeological, artistic, legal, and documentary evidence, as well as coins and inscriptions. All texts are in English, and there is a guide to further reading, a full bibliography, some questions for consideration, a glossary of technical terms, and a brief list of relevant online resources.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780748616602
Publisher:	Edinburgh University Press
Publication date:	04/28/2004
Series:	Debates and Documents in Ancient History
Pages:	220
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Roger Rees is a Reader in Classics at the University of St Andrews. He studied at Cambridge and St Andrews, and has taught at Newcastle, Edinburgh and Trinity College Dublin. His research focuses on the history and literature of the Roman Empire, especially in Late Antiquity. He lives in Fife.

Table of Contents

Contents; Preface iv; Abbreviations vi; Maps vii; Part I Debates 1; Introduction: History and Narrative 2; Chapter 1 Army 15; Chapter 2 Administration 29; ; Chapter 3 Economics 47; Chapter 4 Ceremonial 59; Chapter 5 Religion 73; Chapter 6 Unity, Succession and Legitimacy 93; Conclusion 111; Part II Documents; 1 Aurelius Victor, Book of the Caesars 119; 2 Eutropius, Breviarium 126; 3 Festus, Breviarium 132; 4 Epitome about the Caesars 133; 5 Anonymous Valesianus 136; 6 Lactantius, On the Deaths of the Persecutors 137; 7 Ammianus Marcellinus, Histories 157; 8 Eusebius, History of the Church 158; 9 Malalas, Chronicle 171; 10 Zosimus, New History 172; 11 Panegyrici Latini X(2) 173; 12 Panegyrici Latini XI(3) 177; 13 Panegyrici Latini VIII(4) 181; 14 Panegyrici Latini IX(5) 186; 15 Panegyrici Latini VII(6) 187; 16 Panegyrici Latini VI(7) 188; 17 Panegyrici Latini V(8) 190; 18 Historia Augusta 192; 19 Edict of Maximal Prices 193; 20 Inscriptions 204; 21 Panopolis Papyri 208; 22 Edict of Aristius Optatus 223; 23 Land Declaration 224; 24 Legal Petition 227; 25 Notitia Dignitatum, text 228; 26 Notitia Dignitatum, Saxon Shore 244; 27 Verona List 245; 28 Manichaean rescript 251; 29 Theodosian Code 253; 30 Justinianic Code 254; 31 Act of St. Crispina 257; 32 Act of Felix the Bishop 261; 33 Act of Julius the Veteran 263; 34 Luxor fresco, Gardner Wilkinson 266; 35 Palace at Split, plan 267; 36 Palace at Gamzigrad, plan 268; 37 Palace at Trier, plan 269; 38 Portchester Fort 270; 39 Senate House, Rome 271; 40 Arch of Galerius, Thesssalonica, detail 272; 41 Constantinian Basilica, Trier 273; 42 Maxentian Basilica, Rome 274; 43a, b Decennalia base, Rome, details 275; 44 Coin of Carausius 276; 45 Arras Medallion 277; ; 46 Porphyry group, Venice 278; 47 Porphyry group, Vatican Library 279; 48 Bust of Diocletian (?), Worcester Museum 280; 49 Bust of Licinius (?), Egyptian Museum Cairo 281; 50 Bust of Galerius (?), Gamzigrad 282; Chronology 283; Further Reading 285 ; Essay questions 292; Bibliography 295; Glossary 307; Websites 309.

Editorial Reviews

The book is well done and could be recommended to all students of this very important topic.

Journal of Ancient Civilisations

The book is well done and could be recommended to all students of this very important topic.

This reviewer was impressed by Rees' excellent control of both the primary sources and the secondary literature on the Tetrarchy. His judgements on various contentious issues are balanced, and, in many cases, he allows the reader to draw his or her own conclusions based on the weight of the evidence…. a good introduction to the reign of Diocletian and his co-rulers for the average undergraduate or graduate student.

From the Publisher

This reviewer was impressed by Rees' excellent control of both the primary sources and the secondary literature on the Tetrarchy. His judgements on various contentious issues are balanced, and, in many cases, he allows the reader to draw his or her own conclusions based on the weight of the evidence…. a good introduction to the reign of Diocletian and his co-rulers for the average undergraduate or graduate student.

BMCR