Roman Emperors

(Click graphic for Timeline)

Name:

Diocletian 'Jovius'
20 November 284 – 1 May 305 (20 years, 5 months and 11 days) Whole; then East

Diocletian restored imperial stability after the third-century crisis and created the Tetrarchy. Late in his reign, the empire launched the most extensive official persecution of Christians to that time.

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Maximian 'Herculius'
1 April 286 – 1 May 305 (19 years and 1 month; West) Late 306 – 11 November 308 (2 years; Italy)

Maximian served as Diocletian's western co-emperor and helped establish the Tetrarchic system. He later returned to imperial politics during the succession struggles that followed their abdication.

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Galerius
1 May 305 – May 311 (6 years; East)

Galerius rose through Diocletian's Tetrarchy and became senior eastern emperor in AD 305. A leading figure in the Great Persecution, he later issued an edict tolerating Christianity shortly before his death.

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About the Empire

Christianity had its beginning and early growth during the time of imperial rule in Rome.

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Jesus was born during the rule of Rome's first emperor (Augustus) and his followers endured various levels of persecution during the reigns of many of the subsequent rulers. It wasn't until the early 4th Century under emperor Constantine the Great that Christianity became widely accepted by the governing state.

On these pages we present information about the Roman Emperors from Augustus to Constantine, along with some insights into the nature of what life was like as a Christian during the reigns of these men.

Family Tree
(Augustus to Diocletian)

Family Tree
(Diocletian to Constantine VI)