Very interesting. The overview on wiki holds him in a pretty good light. I’m not debating you by any stretch - you’ve forgotten more about Roman history than I could hope to learn - I just find it funny how Wiki got it so wrong - not that they are a towering example of academic integrity
Diocletian’s reign stabilized the empire and ended the Crisis of the Third Century. He appointed fellow officer Maximian as Augustus, co-emperor, in 286. Diocletian reigned in the Eastern Empire, and Maximian reigned in the Western Empire. Diocletian delegated further on 1 March 293, appointing Galerius and Constantius as junior colleagues (each with the title Caesar), under himself and Maximian respectively. Under the Tetrarchy, or “rule of four”, each tetrarch would rule over a quarter-division of the empire. Diocletian secured the empire’s borders and purged it of all threats to his power. He defeated the Sarmatians and Carpi during several campaigns between 285 and 299, the Alamanni in 288, and usurpers in Egypt between 297 and 298. Galerius, aided by Diocletian, campaigned successfully against Persia, the empire’s traditional enemy, and in 299, he sacked their capital, Ctesiphon. Diocletian led the subsequent negotiations and achieved a lasting and favorable peace.
Diocletian separated and enlarged the empire’s civil and military services and reorganized the empire’s provincial divisions, establishing the largest and most bureaucratic government in the history of the empire. He established new administrative centers in Nicomedia, Mediolanum, Sirmium, and Trevorum, closer to the empire’s frontiers than the traditional capital at Rome. Building on third-century trends towards absolutism, he styled himself an autocrat, elevating himself above the empire’s masses with imposing forms of court ceremonies and architecture. Bureaucratic and military growth, constant campaigning, and construction projects increased the state’s expenditures and necessitated a comprehensive tax reform. From at least 297 on, imperial taxation was standardized, made more equitable, and levied at generally higher rates
The thing about history is that there very often is no consensus, and the mainstream views on figures can very often change with evidence, or even simply the changing of values in wider society. Wiki correctly notes many of the criticisms in the section on reform, but Wiki is just an encyclopedia - excellent for a quick overview, but generally lacking the nuance and depth of more specific writing. This isn’t faulting Wiki, mind you - I adore Wiki, just acknowledging its limitations!
I’m an anti-Diocletian and anti-Constantine partisan, which, while more supported in modern historical academia (though I would not accuse either view of being the consensus view, just an accepted one), was deeply unpopular for a good stretch of the 20th century. So, understandably, many of the sources and authors cited still have positive outlooks on Diocletian (and Constantine).
I also acknowledge that wiki’s function is exactly as you describe - quick reference/starting point. It’s not the be all end all of a debate or subject.
Interesting about how the views have changed on him though
Very interesting. The overview on wiki holds him in a pretty good light. I’m not debating you by any stretch - you’ve forgotten more about Roman history than I could hope to learn - I just find it funny how Wiki got it so wrong - not that they are a towering example of academic integrity
The thing about history is that there very often is no consensus, and the mainstream views on figures can very often change with evidence, or even simply the changing of values in wider society. Wiki correctly notes many of the criticisms in the section on reform, but Wiki is just an encyclopedia - excellent for a quick overview, but generally lacking the nuance and depth of more specific writing. This isn’t faulting Wiki, mind you - I adore Wiki, just acknowledging its limitations!
I’m an anti-Diocletian and anti-Constantine partisan, which, while more supported in modern historical academia (though I would not accuse either view of being the consensus view, just an accepted one), was deeply unpopular for a good stretch of the 20th century. So, understandably, many of the sources and authors cited still have positive outlooks on Diocletian (and Constantine).
You’re very right.
I also acknowledge that wiki’s function is exactly as you describe - quick reference/starting point. It’s not the be all end all of a debate or subject.
Interesting about how the views have changed on him though