person
Diocletian
Also known as Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus
high
- born. 244-12-22high · Wikidata P569
- died. 316-12-03high · Wikidata P570
Emperor (284-305) who began the Great Persecution in 303.
Wikipedia extract
Diocletian, nicknamed Jovius, was Roman emperor from 284 until his abdication in 305. He was born Diocles to a family of low status in the Roman province of Dalmatia. As with other Illyrian soldiers of the period, Diocles rose through the ranks of the military early in his career, serving under Aurelian and Probus, and eventually becoming a cavalry commander for the army of Emperor Carus. After the deaths of Carus and his son Numerian on a campaign in Persia, Diocles was proclaimed emperor by the troops, taking the name "Diocletianus". The title was also claimed by Carus's surviving son, Carinus, but Diocletian defeated him in the Battle of the Margus.
CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikipedia contributors. Source page
Sources
- Diocletian · Wikipedia contributorsAccessed 2026-11-12 · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Wikidata Q43107 · Wikidata contributorsAccessed 2026-11-12 · CC0 1.0
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1907-1912) article · Various (Catholic Encyclopedia)Accessed 2026-11-12 · 1907-1912 text public domain in the US; dated and confessional, use for history of reception
Authority files
- Q43107
- VIAF 70259756
- Library of Congress n81127262
- Catholic Encyclopedia 05007b
Related
- Nicomedia · place
roman-emperors · persecution · 4th-century