Select Observations of Roman Emperors 2, Part 1 · Emperor 41
Choyce Observations OF DIOCLETIANUS, And MAXIMIANUS. Collegues
DIOCLETIANS parentage is uncertainly reported, some making him the son of a Scrivener, and others of a bondman made free by Anulinus a Senatour: but all agree that he was a Dalmatian of base birth.
The name of his Mother (and of the Town wherein he was born) was Dioclea, whence he was called Diocles till he came to be Emperour, and then named himself Diocletian (converting a Greek name into a Roman form) and upon the conquest of the Persi… and Egyptians, Iovius; as Maximian his Collegue stiled himself Hercullus: velut ille Iovis, hic Herculis haeres saith P. Laetus, who parallels Diocletian with Iupiter, and Maximian with Hercules.
When Diocletian serving as common souldier in France, reckoned with his hostesse (one of the Druides) she told him he vvas too penurious; he jeastly ansvvered, that he vvould be bountiful vvhen he came to the rour of Rome: Oraculum apud Plutarchum monebat quendam ut anguem sedu…ò vitaret: id cum praestaret ille, in militem cui anguish insigne clypei erat, incidit, ac obtruncatu… fuit. Quanquam putem ego (pace magni istius Philosophi, & Histori…i tamen) monuisse Deum ut foreign vitaret, quod commune nomen & clypei & serp…n…is est, ita oraculo illi aequivocatio sua constat. Heinsius in Crepundiis. Vide Val. Maximum l. c. 8. de Daphida & Philippo Macedone.she bid him not jeast, saying; Imperator eris, cum aprum occideris.
From that time he hunted often and killed many boares, to see if a Crown would spring from their blood; but he still missed the Empire, which he saw Aurelian, Tacitus Probus and Carus obtained, whereupon he said: I kill many boars, but others go away with the flesh.
At last Aper having killed Numerianus (as is before mentioned) was brought by the souldiers before Diocletian, who being told his name, (and concluding at length that the predictiō was to be understood of a man presently killed him; in outward shew …or zeal of justice, as being not able to endure so foul a fact: but in truth to fulfill the prediction of his hostesse, the Druid; for that Aper signifieth a Boar. Vopiscus in Numeriano saith that his Grand-father, from whom he had this report, was present when Aper was slain, to whom Diocletian, when he struck him, said in a bravado; Gloriare Aper, Aeneae magni dextracadis: adding; Tandem Aprum fatalem occidi.
Diocletian was the first who wore cloath of gold, trod on silk and purple embellished with pearls; and (next after Caligula and Domitian) was the first, who would be sued unto as a god, though (saith Aur. Victor) he carried himself liker a Father, than a Tyrant.
Omnibus aequandus principibus, si à piorum sanguine abstinuisseth, saith B. Egnatius.
It was a good speech of him though an evil Emperour, That the best and most wary Prince may be abused by bad servants. Vopiscus in Aureliano.
Notwithstanding his cruelty condemned even by Libanius a Heathen (in his Oration to Theodosius the Great) yet he counterfeited Clemency, and in appearance had the memory of Marcus Aurelius in great veneration, as a God, saying often that he desired to resemble him in humanity. Capitolinus in Marco Antonino Philosopho.
These 2 Emperours chose 2 Caesars; Diocletian chose Galerius surnamed Armentarius, and Maximian; Constantius Chlorus, enforcing them to put away their wives, and Theodora take their Daughters for an assurance of love by the bonds of that alliance Aur. Victor.
Diocletian by his profound wisdom, wherewith he was endued, found out a more assured way to secure himself against rebellions, than others had discovered: for having taken Maximian for his companion and allie: and afte…wards created Galerius and Constantius Caesars, he rendred himself formidable to those who desired to make themselves Emperours. For in what part soever the rebels rose, one of these four was upon their backs, and stifled them in the birth. OnelyOnly Carausius, whom the situation of great Britain rendred invincible, stood out 7 years. But all the other who had the the boldness to make themselves Emperours, as Aelianus, Amandus, Julianus, &c. were quickly defeated, before they could make any considerable progresse. Tristan.Quae persecutio omnibus ferè anteactis di…turnior atque immanior fuit. p. Orosius, l. 7. c. 25.
In the 19 year of his reign he raised the 10 and extremest persecution, wherein 17000 men women and children were martyred within one monethmonth, besides infinite numbers otherwise punished: the Christians torments lasting 10 years without intermission,Incessabiliter acta est. Id. ibid. no place being free.
Nullus dies cui non ultra quinque millium numerum Martyrum reperiri posset ascriptus, excepto die Calendarum Ianuarii.
There was never a day in the year, except the first of Ianuary, whereto the number of 5000 Martyrs at the least might not be ascribed saith Hierome in his Epistle ad Heliodorum & Chromatium.
Quis non horreat in una Aegypto 144 millia mortalium caesa, 700 millia in exilium acta; praeter Africam totamque Europam in carnificinam versas? ut totum orcum dicas in orbem effusum, ubi nemo nisi tortus vel tortor sit. Bussieres in Flosculis Historicis.
Maximian at Octodurum commandeth the Army to sacrifice to false gods; the Theban Legion consisting of 6666 Christians remove their quarters to Agaunum, to avoid (if possible) occasion of discontenting the Emperour; who summoneth them to perform their parts in this devilish worship: they return an humble denyal, with their resolve not to disobey God, for whose sake they would ever continue faithfull to him. He unsatisfied with this answer, putteth them to a decimation; to which they submit with cheerfulness, praying for their murderer. His commands are renewed but prevail not on the remainder, who are butchered without resistance, there being no delay in their death, except from the wearines of their executioners. Mauricius their Colonel could not contain his joy, when he saw the first decimation gallantly suffered. How …eareful was I, said he to his, awhile, surviving souldiers (for armed men may be tempted to defend themselves) lest any of them might upon colour of just resistance for self-preservation in an innocent cause have strugled against this blessed slaughter. I was watchful and had Christs example in readines, who commanded his Disciple to put his sword into his scabbard. Salus vestra non periclitabitur, nisi armis vestris. Despair it self could not conquer one single patience, which yet createth valour in cowards, and maketh them more couragious in such extremities, because they are fearfull; since they are likely to do most to preserve life, who are most afraid of death. Eucherius Lugdunensis.
Diocletiano & Maximiano imperantibus, acerbissima persecutio exorta, quae per decem continuos annos plebem Dei depopulata est, quâ tempestate omnis ferè sacro martyrum cruore orbis infectus est: quippe certatim gloriosa in certamina ruebatur, multoque avidius tum martyria gloriosis mortibus quaerebantur, quàm nunc Epistopatus pravis ambitionibus appetuntur. Nullus unquam bellis mundus magis exhaustus est, neque unquam majore ttiumpho vicimus, quàm cùm decem annorum stragibus vinci non potuimus. Sulpitius Severus Sa r. Hist. l. 2.
There was a Columne as a Trophy of the extinguishing the Christian faith erected to him with this inscription.Nomine Christianorum deleto Qui Remp. ever…ebant. in another Inscription mentioned by Baronius anno 304.
Dioclesiano Caes. Aug.
Galerio in Oriente
Adopt.
Superstitione Christi ubique deletâ.
Et cultu Deorum ubi que propagato,
Gruters Inscriptions, p. 280.
This most bloody persecutour of the Church,Zonaras, Nicephorus Callist. Th. Metochita, &c. but neither Tristan, nor Chr. Matthias hold this to be the sole cause of his resignation at last perswaded Maximian to lay aside with him all government (not because he was weary of persecuting, but of disappointment) since he could not hatch his long brooded designes for the utter extirpation of the Christians, being thus out of hope to do all the mischief he intended, by resigning the Empire, he putteth himself out of powr to do any.
Being sollicited 4 years afterby Maximian to reassume his charge, he answered; You would not tempt me to it, did you see the herbs set with my own hands in my garden at Salona.
Diocletian being invited by Constantine the Great and Licinius to their marriage-feast, excused himself, that by reason of his age he could not come; upon which they wrote back threatning Letter, wherein he was charged to favour Maximinus, and to have shewed favour to Maxentius: whereupon fearing some shamefull death, he poysoned himself. S. Aur. Victor.
Maximian seemingly taking offence at his son Maxentius, then at variance with his son-in-law Constantine the Great under colour of this dislike, repaired to Constantine, who married Fausta his daughter, with whom he tampered to make away her husband: but she revealed his treachery to Constantine, who thereupon put him to death.
Vtinam Maximianus suo potius ingenio, quàm alieno exemplo fastidi…set fortunae fastigium. Diocletianum secutus est. Sic verò animi inconstans; quia cùm ex Augusto privatus esset, è privato tyrannus esse volu…. Nam ut ad Imperii majestatem eveheret M…xentium filium, acriter aff…xit Rem Romanam: ut deinde evectum rejiceret, pater quoque esse recus…vit. Iam nec in filio Maxentio, nec in genero Constantino purpuram ferens, dum insidias utrique struit, interficitur. Puteanus in Historia Insubrica.