The Soldier Emperors The heirs of Constantine

Rome: The Tetrarchy, Constantine and Licinius

284 to 337 A.D.

Diocletian was proclaimed emperor in 284 AD and consolidated his position by defeating Carinus at the battle of the River Margus in 285 AD. This made him sole ruler of the Roman Empire. However, he surprised everyone by taking his close associate, Maximian, as joint ruler with Diocletian ruling the East and Maximian, the west.

The coinage was re-vitalised and the economic decline was slowed down.

In 293 AD, this system of joint rule was extended with both "Augustii" adopting junior emperors as "Caesars". Maximian chose Constantius, and Diocletian, Galerius.

At this time, Carausius, a soldier who had been sent to clear the English Channel of pirates, had declared himself emperor and taken up residence in Britain. Constantius was sent to sort out the problem. This he managed in 296 AD.

In 305 AD Diocletian and Maximinian abdicated and Constantius and Galerius were promoted to Augustii with Maximinus Daia and Severus respectively to taking their places as Caesars.

In 305 AD Constantius was back in Britain, fighting the pesky Scottish tribes. The next year he died at York, with his son, Constantine, by his side. Constantine was ambitious and set out to become the sole ruler of the Roman Empire.

One of Constantine's adversaries was Maxentius, son of Maximian. Before doing battle with him near Rome, Constantine is alleged to have seen a Christian Cross light up the sky and heard the words, "By this sign shall you conquer". Constantine won at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and consequently made the entire Roman Empire Christian.

In 324 AD, Constantine defeated his last enemy, Licinius, and thus became master of the Roman Empire. But he did not make Rome his capital, but built a new one at Byzantium which he called Constantinople; a portentous move. He had plenty of sons and other eager relatives with whom to share his rule, but the split between East and West had begun.

List of Emperors
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Diocletian
284 - 305 AD
Antoninianus of Ticinum
Diocletian
284 - 305 AD
Antoninianus of Antioch
Diocletian
284 - 305 AD
Antoninianus of Siscia
Diocletian
284 - 305 AD
Follis of Alexandria
Diocletian
284 - 305 AD
Post-reform radiate of Cyzicus
Domitius Domitianus
286 - 287 AD
Follis of Alexandria
Carausius
287 - 293 AD
Antoninianus of London
Allectus
293 - 296 AD
Antoninianus of London
Allectus
293 - 296 AD
Quinarius of Camulodunum
Maximianus
1st reign 286-305 AD
AR Argenteus of Ticinum
Maximianus
1st reign 286-305 AD
Antoninianus of Lugdunum
Maximianus
1st reign 286-305 AD
Antoninianus of Lugdunum
Maximianus
1st reign 286-305 AD
Antoninianus of Tripolis
Maximianus
1st reign 286-305 AD
Follis of Antioch
Maximianus
1st reign 286-305 AD
Follis of Aquileia
Maximianus
1st reign 286-305 AD
Post Reform radiate of Cyzicus
Maximianus
1st reign 286-305 AD
AE Quarter Follis of Siscia
Maximianus
Abdication 305-306 AD
Follis of Rome
Maximianus
2nd reign 306-308 AD
Follis of Rome
Maximianus
Commemorative under Constantine
Half Follis of Thessalonica
Constantius I
As Caesar 293-305 AD
AR Argenteus of Rome
Constantius I
As Caesar 293-305 AD
Follis of Antioch
Constantius I
As Augustus 305-306 AD
Follis of Carthage
Theodora
Wife of Constantine
AE4 of Trier
Galerius as Caesar
293-305 AD
AR Argenteus of Nicomedia
Galerius as Caesar
293-305 AD
Follis of Aquileia
Galerius as Caesar
293-305 AD
Follis of Carthage
Galerius as Caesar
293-305 AD
Follis of London
Galerius as Augustus
305-311 AD
Follis of Alexandria
Galeria Valeria
wife of Galerius
Follis of Thessalonica
Severus II
Caes. 305-306 AD: Aug. 306-307 AD
Follis of Cyzicus
Severus II
Caes. 305-306 AD: Aug. 306-307 AD
Quarter Follis of Siscia
Maximinus II as Caesar
Caes. 305-308 AD: Aug. 309-313 AD
Follis of Nicomedia
Maximinus II as Filius Augustorum
308-309 AD
Follis of Thessalonika
Maximinus II as Augustus
Aug. 309-313 AD
Follis of London
Maximinus II as Augustus
Aug. 309-313 AD
Follis of Heraclea
Maximinus II as Augustus
309-313 AD
Base silver Argenteus
Maxentius
Caes. 306 AD: Aug. 306-312 AD
Follis of Aquileia
Maxentius
Caes. 306 AD: Aug. 306-312 AD
Follis of Aquileia
Maxentius
Caes. 306 AD: Aug. 306-312 AD
Follis of Ostia
Romulus d. 309 AD
Son of Maxentius
Follis of Ostia
Licinius I
308 - 324 AD
Follis of Alexandria
Licinius I
308 - 324 AD
Follis of Antioch
Licinius I
308 - 324 AD
Follis of London
Licinius I
308 - 324 AD
Follis of Nicomedia
Licinius I
308 - 324 AD
Follis of Heraclea
Licinius I
308 - 324 AD
Base silver Argenteus of Trier
Licinius I
308 - 324 AD
Cententionalis of Arles
Licinius I
308 - 324 AD
Cententionalis of Thessalonika
Licinius II
Caesar 317 - 324 AD
Cententionalis of Alexandria
Licinius II
Caesar 317 - 324 AD
Cententionalis of Antioch
Licinius II
Caesar 317 - 324 AD
Cententionalis of Rome
Constantine I as Caesar
306-307 AD
Follis of Rome
Constantine I as Caesar
306-307 AD
Follis of London
Constantine I as Filius Augustorum
308-309 AD
Follis of Thessalonica
Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Follis of Trier
Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Follis of Rome
Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Follis of Rome
Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Base silver Argenteus of Trier
Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of London
Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of Trier
Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of London
Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of Trier
Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Imitative Cententionalis
Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Imitative Cententionalis of Arelate
Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of Ticinum
Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of Lyons
Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of Heraclea
Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of Constantinople
Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of Arelate
Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of Arelate
Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of Constantinople
Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of Alexandria
Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of Constantinople
Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Dedication of Constantinople
Constantine I Commemorative
309-337 AD
Reduced Cententionalis of Trier
Roma Commemorative
330-346 A.D.
Reduced Cententionalis of Siscia
Constantinopolis Commemorative
330-346 A.D.
Reduced Cententionalis of Arles
Fausta
Wife of Constantine
Cententionalis of Trier
Helena Wife of Constantius I
Mother of Constantine
Cententionalis of Trier
Crispus
Caesar 317 - 326 AD
Cententionalis of Heraclea
Crispus
Caesar 317 - 326 AD
Cententionalis of Siscia
Crispus
Caesar 317 - 326 AD
Cententionalis of Thessalonika
Crispus
Caesar 317 - 326 AD
Cententionalis of London
Crispus
Caesar 317 - 326 AD
Cententionalis of London
Delmatius Caesar
335 - 337 AD
Reduced Cententionalis of Siscia
Hanniballianus
Rex 335 - 337 AD
Reduced Cent of Constantinople

The Republic
The Julio-Claudian Emperors
The Flavian, Adoptive and Antonine Emperors
The Severan Emperors
The Barrack Room Emperors
The Gallic Empire
Aurelian's Monetary Reforms
The Tetrarchy, Constantine and Licinius
The heirs of Constantine
The Valentinian Emperors to the Fall
Roman Imitative Coins