1. Diocletian - Noun
2. Diocletian - Adjective
3. Diocletian - Proper noun
Roman Emperor who when faced with military problems decided in 286 to divide the Roman Empire between himself in the east and Maximian in the west; he initiated the last persecution of the Christians in 303 (245-313)
Source: WordNetAccording to Lactantius, the crowd listening to Diocletian's resignation speech believed, until the very last moment, that Diocletian would choose Constantine and Maxentius (Maximian's son) as his successors. Source: Internet
Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius, 24; Southern, 168. Galerius convinced Diocletian that the culprits were Christians, conspirators who had plotted with the eunuchs of the palace. Source: Internet
As leader of the united East, Diocletian was clearly the greater threat. Source: Internet
At Carnuntum people begged Diocletian to return to the throne, to resolve the conflicts that had arisen through Constantine's rise to power and Maxentius' usurpation. Source: Internet
At the behest of his court, Diocletian acceded to demands for universal persecution. Source: Internet
Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius, 11; Cascio, "The New State of Diocletian and Constantine" (CAH), 172. The shift from military acclamation to divine sanctification took the power to appoint emperors away from the army. Source: Internet