Diocletian's Lasting Legacy of Power Transfer In 293 AD, Roman Emperor Diocletian implemented a revolutionary system of power transfer that would shape the course of imperial succession for centuries to come.
This innovative approach, known as the tetrarchy, marked a significant departure from the previous Roman tradition of selecting emperors solely based on bloodline and military prowess.
The Creation of the Tetrarchy: A New Order for Rome The concept of the tetrarchy was straightforward yet profound: Diocletian divided the empire into four regions, each ruled by an Augustus (senior emperor) and a Caesar (junior emperor).