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Diocletian
· Established the autocratic rule by emperors which characterised the Later Empire.
· Established the tetrarchy (rule by four). In 285 He appointed his fellow general Maximian as co-emperor. Diocletian was in charge of the East and Maximian was in charge of the West. In 393 the two men became senior emperors (Augusti) with the appointment of two junior emperors (Caesars): Constantius Chlorus and Galerius
· Subdivided the empire into four major administrative units (praetorian prefectures) under the charge of one of the four emperors: Galliae (Gaul, Britain and Hispania) headed by Constantius Chlorus, Italia et Africa (Italy and north-eastern Africa) headed by Maximian, Illyricum (the Balkan Peninsula except for Thrace (in eastern Bulgaria) and Oriens (East, Thrace, the Roman territories in Asia, Egypt and eastern Libya) headed by Diocletian.
· Created four new imperial capitals: Nicomedia (in north-western Turkey), Milan (in northern Italy), Sirmium (in Serbia) and Augusta Trevorum (Triers in south-western Germany).
· Doubled the number of provinces of the empire to over 100 to weaken the power of the provincial governors.
· Grouped the provinces into 12 dioceses headed by a vicarius, an official who was the deputy of the praetorian prefect, the highest official at Diocletian's court. This gave the emperor a more direct and tighter control over the empire,
· Reduced the role of the governors to mainly acting as judges in the lower courts.
· Tax collection was conducted by both the vicarius and the governor (previously only the governor did this).
· Separated civil and military power (both had previously been held by the governors) by creating duces, who were independent of the civil service and the military commanders in two or three of the new provinces.
· Doubled the size of the imperial bureaucracy was doubled.
· Reformed the coin system. The new coins were the aureus/solidus (gold), argenteus (silver), follis (coper with some added silver) and radiatus (copper). These coins were of higher quality than previous ones. The reform was an attempt to stem runaway inflation.
· When the monetary reform failed to stem inflation, Diocletian issued the Edict of Maximum Prices, but it proved unenforceable.
Constantine I
· Ended Diocletian's tetrarchy when he became sole emperor.
· Continued the autocratic style of rule of Diocletian
· Retained the administrative reforms of Diocletian: the doubled number the provinces, the dioceses, the vicarii (plural of vicarious), the doubled size of the bureaucracy, and the separation between civil and military power.
· Revived the status and administrative role of the senatorial rank reversing a pro- equestrian (cavalryman) rank trend in which the equestrians had come to monopolise the senior offices of state. He opened up administrative posts to senatorial men and made existing equestrian office holders senators.
Thus, the senatorial rank became part of the imperial hierarchy. Senator were now also allowed to elect two types of officials: the praetors and the quaestors.
· Created a new imperial capital, redeveloping the city of Byzantium and renaming it Constantinople (City of Constantine).
· Completed the termination of the Great Persecution of the Christians which had been unleashed by Diocletian with the Edict of Milan in 313. It reiterated the toleration of the Christians which had been decreed by the Edict of Toleration by the emperor Galerius of 311. Constantine was also the first emperor who sponsored Christianity and introduced laws which favoured the Christians.
· Dealt with runaway inflation by concentrating of the large-scale issue of a gold coin, the solidus, and temporality did not issue new silver coins, which he started to mint late during his reign. He managed to do so by confiscating the treasuries and statues of pagan temples to smelt gold and make coins. The confiscations were also used to finance the development of the new imperial capital.
Uncertain
· A new gold coin was issued, the solidus. It is unclear whether it was Diocletian or Constantine who introduced this coin.
· In 4th century, the Roman military was divided into frontier armies under the command of duces and permanent field armies under the command of the emperor, or other military officers. The frontier armies patrolled the borders and dealt with small-scale raids. The field armies dealt with larger-scale raids and conducted large-scale attacks across the frontiers; they were later called ripenses or limitanei. It is not entirely clear who introduced these reforms and modern historians disagree as to whether it was Diocletian or Constantine.
Both
Besides the autocratic style of rule and the administrative reforms, both Diocletian and Constantine:
· Made the curiales, wealthy local elite people who acted as city councillors and who collected local taxes, pay for shortfalls in tax collection out of their own pockets. Since they many curiales to evade their duties, they were tied to their posts by making them hereditary. If they fled their cities, they were arrested and returned to their positions.
· Promulgated decrees which made people's professions hereditary.
· Many coloni (free tenant farmers) fled to the latifundia (large landed estates) and became tenants of the large landowners who paid a rent in the form of sharecropping to escape heavy tax collection. Both Diocletian and Constantine issued decrees which tied them to their landlords, reducing them to serf-like status. In exchange the landlords undertook tax collection on their estates. Constantine issued a degree by which captured escaping coloni could be kept in chains as if they were slaves. Several subsequent emperors issued this type of edicts. Many coloni became bagaudae, bandits
Although temporarily successful, in long run such authoritarian policies stifled the very vitality the Late Empire needed to revive its sagging fortunes.
What else can I help you with?
Most progressives believed that the nation needed?
Political and economic reforms. :]
How did English political reforms affect the period 1832?
The English political reforms of 1832, particularly the Reform Act, significantly altered the political landscape by expanding the electorate and redistributing parliamentary seats to better represent urban areas. This act abolished "rotten boroughs" and increased the number of voters, particularly among the middle class, which diminished the dominance of the aristocracy. The reforms marked a crucial step toward modern democracy in Britain, fostering a more inclusive political system and setting the stage for further reforms in the coming decades. Overall, the 1832 changes reflected and spurred growing demands for representation and social justice in the industrializing society.
What was the intent of political reforms such as the direct primary initiative refrendum and recall?
To give voters a stronger voice in government
What was the major issue that divided the early political parties?
Allaigance to orthodox church,reforms,allaigance to kingship etc.
Political party that favored a more activist government high tariffs internal improvements and moral reforms?
the Whig party
What laws did Constantine change the laws of the empire?
Apart from laws which favoured the Christians, Constantine mostly retained the reforms introduced by his predecessor, Diocletian.
What are the comparison between Diocletian and Constantine?
Diocletian and Constantine were both Roman emperors who implemented significant reforms but differed in their approaches and legacies. Diocletian is known for establishing the Tetrarchy, dividing the empire into four regions to improve governance and stabilize a crumbling state, while he also enforced strict economic controls and persecution of Christians. In contrast, Constantine is celebrated for embracing Christianity, issuing the Edict of Milan which granted religious tolerance, and founding Constantinople as a new capital, thus shifting the empire's focus eastward. While Diocletian sought to restore traditional Roman values, Constantine's reign marked a pivotal transformation towards a Christian empire.
What are dicoletian's reforms?
Diocletian's reforms, implemented in the late 3rd century AD, aimed to stabilize and strengthen the Roman Empire amidst economic turmoil and political instability. Key reforms included the division of the empire into the Eastern and Western Roman Empires, the establishment of the tetrarchy to share power among four rulers, and the introduction of price controls to combat inflation. Diocletian also restructured the military and provincial administration to enhance efficiency and security. These reforms laid the groundwork for the later transformation of the Roman Empire.
What were diocletian's reforms?
Social reform: he made it so that the emperors were respected and awed again Military reforms: He got rid of the field armies Administrative reforms: he separated the civil leaders from the military leaders Tax reforms: he created a standardized tax system where taxes were established on the basis of how many workers were in an area and how productive the land was political reforms: established a tetrarchy because the empire was too big for one person to run religious reforms: persecuted christians in the Great Persecution Price reforms: issued a price edict declaring the maximum price that a product could be sold for
Why were emperors Diocletian and Constantine important?
Emperors Diocletian and Constantine were pivotal in transforming the Roman Empire during the late 3rd and early 4th centuries. Diocletian is known for his significant administrative reforms, including the division of the empire into the Western and Eastern Roman Empires and the introduction of the tetrarchy to improve governance. Constantine furthered these changes by embracing Christianity, issuing the Edict of Milan for religious tolerance, and founding Constantinople, which became a major center of power and culture. Their leadership helped stabilize the empire during a time of crisis and laid the groundwork for the Byzantine Empire.
What describes the government of diocletian?
One of the great leaders of Ancient Rome, Diocletian served as Emperor in the years 284 to 305 AD (or, CE). While engaging in numerous social, political, and military reforms during his reign, the government of Rome remained an absolutist one, where final power rested in the hands of the supreme emperor (or, as Diocletian eventually arranged, co-emperors) at the top of the complex bureaucratic and legal administration that enforced imperial policies.
When were the reforms of Diocletian made?
31 B.C. January 32
Why did the empire continue to decline despite Diocletian's reforms ans strong rule?
Despite Diocletian's reforms and strong rule, the Roman Empire continued to decline due to a combination of internal and external factors. The reforms, while aimed at stabilizing the economy and administration, were often too rigid and failed to address the underlying issues of corruption, overreliance on military power, and social unrest. Additionally, increasing pressure from external invasions by barbarian tribes further strained the empire's resources and military. Ultimately, these persistent challenges undermined the effectiveness of Diocletian's efforts to restore the empire's strength.
What did Constantine do to the world?
Constantine was a very significant Roman Emperor, ruling for 32 years. He consolidated his power, becoming the sole emperor, and brought an end to the turmoil that resulted from the breakdown of Emperor Diocletian's plan for an ongoing tetrarchy. During his reign the borders of the Roman Empire were maintained, and the economic reforms of Emperor Diocletian were consolidated. During his reign, Christianity moved from its status as a sometimes persecuted religion to the favoured religion of the Roman Empire.
Are Diocletian's reforms needed today?
Diocletian's reforms, which aimed to stabilize the Roman Empire through administrative restructuring, economic control, and military reorganization, may not be directly applicable today. However, the principles behind his reforms—such as the need for efficient governance, effective resource management, and strong leadership in times of crisis—remain relevant. Modern societies can learn from his strategies in addressing complex challenges, although contemporary solutions must account for democratic values and global interconnectedness. Ultimately, while the specifics of Diocletian's reforms aren't needed, their underlying concepts can inspire modern governance.
When economic and military problems threatened the Roman Empire in the third century Diocletian introduced changes that included all of the following EXCEPT?
Diocletian's reforms in the third century aimed to stabilize the Roman Empire amidst economic and military crises, introducing measures such as the tetrarchy to improve governance, price controls to combat inflation, and military reforms to strengthen defense. However, he did not implement the establishment of a single, centralized currency; instead, various coins continued to circulate, reflecting the economic instability of the time.
What were two political reforms of diocletian?
One of Diocletian's reforms was the tetrarchy (rule by four). He appointed fellow general Maximian as co-emperor. Maximian took overall control of the western part of the empire, while Diocletian took overall control of the eastern part. Then these two men became senior emperors (Augusti) with the creation of two junior emperors (Caesars) who were subordinates of the Augusti. The empire was subdivided into four praetorian provinces, each headed by one of the tetrarchs. Another reform was administrative. Diocletian more than doubled the number of provinces by subdividing them in order to curtail the power of the governors (who were potential usurpers) and make tax collection and the enforcement of the law more efficient. He grouped the provinces under twelve dioceses headed by a vicarious (vicars, deputies of the praetorian prefect) which in turn were grouped under four praetorian prefectures. He reduced the main role of the governors to that of presiding over the lower courts. The higher courts were now presided over by the vicars. Their military command was taken away from them. Diocletian separated civilian and military power by creating new military commanders, the duces (dukes) which were separate from the civil service (previously the governors also commanded the troops in the provinces). The duces sometimes headed troops in two or three provinces. Tax collection, previously assigned to the procurators (juniors of the governors) was assigned to the governors and to the vicars. Diocletian also increased the size of the bureaucracy, probably doubling it from 15,000 to 30,000. This was a disproportionately high number given the population of the empire at the time. Half of this was provincial and diocesan officials. The other held were the staff of the praetorian prefects, the imperial court and grain supply officials and officials from The imperial court was highly structured. It was organised in different departments headed by magistri (magisters). There were legal advisers and two treasurers, one of the public treasuries and one for the imperial estates.
