Roman Tetrarchie

the Roman Tetrarchie (of Greek τετρα tetra four and αρχη archä rule, government) was a system of government, which introduced emperors Diokletian 293 to the Roman realm. Whether this decision was at longer term planned or was met as quite spontaneous reaction to a current crisis, is inthe old-historical research disputed.

reason by Diokletian

it gave four rulers in emperor rank in this system: in each case one Senior emperor (Augustus) in Rome, i.e. in the west, and in Nikomedia, i.e. in the east, which adopted ever a junior emperor (Caesar), who late his successor should become. Laws, which a Augustus or a Caesar issued, applied to the whole Imperium. Was probablea regular 10-yearly cycle planned: One was 10 years Caesar, then 10 years Augustus.

Diokletian accepted God names as surname of the Iovius , its with Augustus Maximian the name Herculius. Thus it was also clear that Diokletian took a superordinate position. This position became also during its reignnever in question posed.

This system invented by Diokletian offered some advantages:

• Also for several simultaneous problems at distant places everywhere someone could see to rights in emperor rank after that.
• Because a Caesar could train itself as junior emperors, gave it to more stability.
• If a Augustusin the Caesar, brought it did not have a designate successor, that already was in power for potential usurpers an advantage to murder the Augustus.

The system worked in the first years quite well. Diokletian, as Augustus of the east, made Galerius the Caesar. Maximian, the Augustusthe west adopted Constantius Chlorus. The division of labor worked satisfactorily: Diokletian worried about the rebellions in Egypt, while Galerius the Persian border befriedete, secured for Maximian the African province and Constantius in Britannien provided for order.

Diokletians resignation and the followingCrisis

304 however Diokletian for health reasons wanted to withdraw and brought also Maximian to resign at the same time. The two new Augusti, Galerius and Constantius Chlorus, should adopt then for their part a Caesar. At the 1. Diokletian and Maximian stepped May 305back. Galerius adopted according to plan Severus as Caesar.

Now however a weak point showed up in the system: it had ignored that power of the father had changed over before to the son - and both Maximian and Constantius Chlorus had ambitious sons, those the newSystem did not assure.

When the Augustus Constantius Chlorus 306 died, it came to some confusions: Its son Konstantin was proclaimed from the troops to the Augustus, simultaneous made themselves Maxentius, the son Maximians, in Rome (did not recognize) the Augustus.

Only to the conference of Carnuntum in the year 308 the thing was again regulated: Galerius and Licinius were provided Augusti, Konstantin and Maximinus Daia with that new title filii Augustorum. In Rome prevailed still to Maxentius.

the end of the tetrarchischen order

after the death of the Galerius 311still three were: Licinius, Konstantin, Maximinus Daia and still Maxentius in Rome. Licinius and Konstantin allied themselves and proceeded against the two different. Licinius defeated 313 Maximinus Daia, Konstantin 312 Maxentius (in the battle at the Milvi bridge). Between 322 and 324 it came to the fight between Konstantin and Licinius and starting from 324 was Konstantin autocrat.

It had been shown that old dynastische thinking straight had not disappeared at the army. The soldiers adhered to their field gentlemen (as with the collection constant in after deathits father). Thus the system of the Tetrarchie had failed, which was equivalent with the return to the old dynastischen order.

emperors of the Tetrarchie