Dr. David Gwynn

But crucially, in the third century, while there are major threat pressures on the frontiers, there aren't huge migrations moving into the Roman Empire. And over a long, hard-fought period, particularly between 250 and 275, The Roman emperors, Gallienus, Aurelian in particular, managed to retake all the lost territories, stabilize the frontiers. So the Roman Empire looked like shatterings.

And yet it emerges from the third century still basically intact.

And yet it emerges from the third century still basically intact.

And yet it emerges from the third century still basically intact.

Yes, I do. My primary area of research is the world of late antiquity, the world of the later Roman Empire. And the date we traditionally use is 284, because in 284 AD, the Emperor Diocletian begins the reorganization, drawing on things that had happened in the third century crisis. Diocletian's reorganization was then actually continued by Constantine. They are religiously completely different.

Yes, I do. My primary area of research is the world of late antiquity, the world of the later Roman Empire. And the date we traditionally use is 284, because in 284 AD, the Emperor Diocletian begins the reorganization, drawing on things that had happened in the third century crisis. Diocletian's reorganization was then actually continued by Constantine. They are religiously completely different.

Yes, I do. My primary area of research is the world of late antiquity, the world of the later Roman Empire. And the date we traditionally use is 284, because in 284 AD, the Emperor Diocletian begins the reorganization, drawing on things that had happened in the third century crisis. Diocletian's reorganization was then actually continued by Constantine. They are religiously completely different.

Diocletian, the emperor responsible for the last great persecution of Christians, Constantine, the first Christian emperor. But actually, in terms of military, political, administrative concerns, they form a unity. And what took shape in that 50 years, from Diocletian's accession in 284 to Constantine's death in 337, restructured

Diocletian, the emperor responsible for the last great persecution of Christians, Constantine, the first Christian emperor. But actually, in terms of military, political, administrative concerns, they form a unity. And what took shape in that 50 years, from Diocletian's accession in 284 to Constantine's death in 337, restructured

Diocletian, the emperor responsible for the last great persecution of Christians, Constantine, the first Christian emperor. But actually, in terms of military, political, administrative concerns, they form a unity. And what took shape in that 50 years, from Diocletian's accession in 284 to Constantine's death in 337, restructured

The Roman Empire gave it a new, stronger bureaucracy, a well-organized tax system. The frontiers were once again reinforced. The army was reorganized. Whether it's stronger than, say, the high empire of the second century AD, it's a very difficult judgment to make. It is certainly not obviously weaker.

The Roman Empire gave it a new, stronger bureaucracy, a well-organized tax system. The frontiers were once again reinforced. The army was reorganized. Whether it's stronger than, say, the high empire of the second century AD, it's a very difficult judgment to make. It is certainly not obviously weaker.

The Roman Empire gave it a new, stronger bureaucracy, a well-organized tax system. The frontiers were once again reinforced. The army was reorganized. Whether it's stronger than, say, the high empire of the second century AD, it's a very difficult judgment to make. It is certainly not obviously weaker.

Diocletian's solution was, in order to achieve significant wide-ranging reorganization, he needed help. The Roman Empire is vast, and this is a world without modern communications, without radio, without the internet.

Diocletian's solution was, in order to achieve significant wide-ranging reorganization, he needed help. The Roman Empire is vast, and this is a world without modern communications, without radio, without the internet.

Diocletian's solution was, in order to achieve significant wide-ranging reorganization, he needed help. The Roman Empire is vast, and this is a world without modern communications, without radio, without the internet.

So Diocletian shares power, first with one co-ruler, then with two others to make what's famously called the Tetrarchy, the rule of four, because it means there's one imperial figure in every major region. And once that's secure, what Diocletian set out to do was, firstly, they needed a better administration system. Above all, because the purpose of administration is tax collection.

So Diocletian shares power, first with one co-ruler, then with two others to make what's famously called the Tetrarchy, the rule of four, because it means there's one imperial figure in every major region. And once that's secure, what Diocletian set out to do was, firstly, they needed a better administration system. Above all, because the purpose of administration is tax collection.

So Diocletian shares power, first with one co-ruler, then with two others to make what's famously called the Tetrarchy, the rule of four, because it means there's one imperial figure in every major region. And once that's secure, what Diocletian set out to do was, firstly, they needed a better administration system. Above all, because the purpose of administration is tax collection.

You need the tax collection to pay for the army. It's always worth remembering one key thing that sets the Roman Empire apart from the later medieval kingdoms. The Roman Empire of Diocletian had a standing army of around 400,000 men. No one's coming near that figure in a thousand years later because it's got a tax system to pay for it.