• DOI:10.1086/449431
• Corpus ID: 161141658

Lactantius and the Succession to Diocletian

@article{Mackay1999LactantiusAT,
  title={Lactantius and the Succession to Diocletian},
  author={Christopher S. Mackay},
  journal={Classical Philology},
  year={1999},
  volume={94},
  pages={198 - 209}
}

• C. Mackay
• Published 1 April 1999
• History
• Classical Philology

L ACTANTIUS De mortibus persecutorum 18.13-14 is cited as evidence that the emperor known as Maximinus Daza was the nephew of Galerius.I The passage in fact says nothing of the sort, and attentive reading of it in context indicates that Lactantius actually intends to convey a much different impression. Study of this passage has important implications for the interpretation and assessment of Lactantius' version of the abdication of Diocletian. Since Lactantius' account is the fullest source for this important event, proper appreciation of Lactantius is a prerequisite for an accurate historical understanding of the abdication. Diocletian had established a new hierarchy, called in modern works the tetrarchy, and the passage of Lactantius must be examined against the background of this tetrarchic system.2 Diocletian became emperor in 284 and the next year appointed to the rank of Caesar his friend Maximianus, whom he then made his fellow Augustus in 286, assigning to him the Western half of the empire. In 293 the two Augusti each appointed an heir with the title Caesar, Diocletian adopting Galerius, and Maximianus, Constantius.3 In 305 Diocletian and Maximianus abdicated and were succeeded as Augusti by their Caesars, who in turn appointed new Caesars. This new system of appointive succession worked only this one time, collapsing under the hereditary claims of imperial offspring who had been passed over as successors.4