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6.1.3 Tetrarchical Relationships
Diocletianus's wife Prisca bore him a daughter Galeria Valeria, who married Galerius (whom Diocletianus had adopted and appointed caesar on March 1, 293). Galerius's sister gave birth to a son, Maximinus Daia, and Galerius's daughter by his first wife, Valeria Maximilla, married Maxentius, son of Maximianus by his wife Eutropia; Eutropia's first marriage (to Afranius Hannibalianus) had produced a daughter, Theodora, who became the second wife of Constantius I "Chlorus" ("the Pale") in 289 (adopted by Maximianus on March 1, 293). Constantius's marriage to Theodora produced a daughter, Constantia, who married Licinius; his first marriage to St. Helena produced a son, Constantinus (see below), whose second wife was Fausta, sister of Maxentius and daughter of Maximianus.
To summarise:
- Diocletianus: father-in-law and adoptive father of Galerius
- Maximianus: father of Maxentius, adoptive father and stepfather-in-law of Constantius I "Chlorus", father-in-law of Constantinus, stepgrandfather-in-law of Licinius
- Galerius: son-in-law and adopted son of Diocletianus, uncle of Maximinus Daia, father-in-law of Maxentius
- Constantius I "Chlorus": father (and stepbrother-in-law) of Constantinus, father-in-law of Licinius, adopted son and stepson-in-law of Maximianus, adoptive brother and half-brother-in-law of Maxentius
- Maximinus Daia: nephew of Galerius
- Constantinus: son (and stepbrother-in-law) of Constantius I "Chlorus", son-in-law of Maximianus, brother-in-law of Maxentius, half-brother-in-law of Licinius
- Maxentius: son of Maximianus, son-in-law of Galerius, adoptive brother and half-brother-in-law of Constantius I "Chlorus", brother-in-law of Constantinus
- Licinius: son-in-law of Constantius I "Chlorus", half-brother-in-law of Constantinus, half-nephew of Maxentius, stepgrandson-in-law of Maximianus
The death of Galerius in May 311 and Constantinus's spectacular victory over Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge on October 28, 312, left only three Emperors: in the East, Maximinus Daia; in the West, Licinius and Constantinus. Licinius defeated Maximinus Daia in April 313 at Tarsus, and the latter committed suicide shortly thereafter, leaving Licinius and Constantinus the only Emperors; they governed the Empire along the usual lines of East and West, respectively, discarded the defunct Tetrarchical system, warred against one another in 316 – 317, and again in 324 – 325. The execution of Licinius in spring 325 left Constantinus the first sole Emperor since Diocletianus made Maximianus his co-Emperor in 286.
6.2.1 Emperor in the East
- Licinius (cont'd.), 313 – 324
- Aurelius Valerius Valens, 316 – 317 (as "Imp. Caesar Aurelius Valerius Valens P.F. Aug.")
- Martius Martinianus, 324 (as "Imp. Caesar Martius Martinianus P.F. Aug.")
6.2.2 Emperor in the West
- Constantinus (cont'd.), 312 – 324 (styled "Imp. Caesar Constantinus P.F. Victor Aug." from 324)
6.3 Constantinian Dynasty
The Constantinian dynasty properly began with Constantius "Chlorus" (caesar, 293, augustus, 305), an experienced Illyrian soldier and general; the Constantiniani were originally another family of "Barracks Emperors". The dynasty retained and reinforced the monarchical evolution of the Imperial dignity, and sponsored the pivotal Edict of Milan in 312, which extended official toleration to Christianity, which religion had suffered considerable persecution under recent Emperors. Constantinus I undertook major reforms of Imperial administration and military organisation, founded a new Imperial capital at Constantinople on November 8, 324, summoned the first Christian ecumenical council ( I Nicaea, 325), and became the first Christian Emperor in 337.
Constantinian Emperors:
Before Constantinus's death, he divided the Empire into four parts governed by caesares, apparently intending to re-establish the Tetrarchy. He left most of the West to his son Constantinus II, the East to his son Constantius II, Italia and the Upper Danube to his son Constans I, and Greece and the Lower Danube to his half-nephew Flavius Dalmatius . Dalmatius was killed shortly after Constantinus's death, and the Empire was divided into three parts.
