Today in History: Diocletian Establishes the Tetrarchy

On this day (March 1) in 293, Roman Emperors Diocletian and Maximian appointed Constantius and Galerius as Caesars of the Empire. Under Diocletian’s system, called the Tetrarchy, Constantius was the heir of Maximian in the western half of the empire while Galerius was the heir to Diocletian in the east. The establishment of the Tetrarchy was designed to solve two major problems for Rome. First, it gave military commands to men who were already emperors. Diocletian hoped that this would prevent generals from weakening the empire through attempted coups and the resulting civil wars. Second, Diocletian hoped that by associating competent successors on the throne with reigning emperors that he would assure a peaceful succession. His plan failed and a series of civil wars followed the end of his reign which ultimately lifted Constantine, son of Constantius, to sole ruler of the Roman Empire.