The Emperor of Rome who occupied the throne for more than 20 years (284-305) before his successor, Constantine. Considered the most savage of the persecutors of the church. Divided the imperial rule among four men — two "Augusti," with slightly subordinate "Caesars" in order to control the ambitions of his most likely rivals.
Two years before the end of his reign, he suddenly ordered the most vicious of all persecutions of the Christians.
[tags]BlogRodent, church-history, ChurchRodent, Constantine, Diocletian, history[/tags]