PART II.A: F R OM THE TE TR AR CH Y TO CON S TA N T I N E Between 284 and 324 the Empire was ruled by a consortium of ever-shifting emperors and caesars (sort of adjutant emperors). This arrangement was made by Diocletian who envisioned the empire to be administered by a “tetrarchy” consisting of one emperor and a caesar in the East and another emperor and ceasar in the West. In practice and after Diocletian’s retirement the scheme suffered the machinations, subterfuge, and outright civil war among a group that included Maximian, Maximinius and his son (and sometimes partner, sometimes enemy) Maxentius, Constantinus and his son Constantine, Galerius, Severus, and Licinius. When the dust settled, Constantine had defeated Maxentius at the famous Battle of Ponte Milvio under the Christian ‘labarium’ (a banner featuring the chi-rho), and then defeated his onetime co-emperor Licinius. The whole empire was then ruled by one emperor…a Christian emperor.
Arcadius, Archaeological Museum: Istanbul
Honorarius, Capitoline Museum: Rome
PA RT I I . B : FR OM CONSTA NTI NE TO A R C A DI US & HONOR A R I US Emperors
Wives, Generals, Usurpers, Enemies, Illustrii, Scholars, Poets, Sisters
Bishop and/or* Theologian Athanasius, Arius*, Hilary of Poitiers, Palladius
Constantine 337-350 Constans 337-340 Constantine II
Magnentius: usurper
337-361 Constantius 361-363 Julian
Ammianus: historian Auxentius
363-364 Jovian 364-375 Valentinian I
Marina Severa, Justina: wives, Firmus: African rebel, Fritigern: Gothic chieftain, Merobaudes: general
364-378 Valens
Theodosius (elder): general, Probus: Senator, Consul Symmachus: Senator Praetextatus: Senato Ausonius: Poet
Liberalis Damasus pseudo-Auxentius
367-383 Gratian 375-392 Valentinian II 378-395 Theodosius
Flaccilla, Galla: wives, Richomer, Bauto, Gildo & Stilicho: generals, Magnus Maximus: usurper, Andragathius: general, Arbogastes, Eugenius, Nichomachus: usurpers, General, scholar, and Senator, respectively, Alaric: Gothic chieftain
Siricius Pricillian Simplician
395-408 Arcadius
Aelia Eudoxia: wife Pulcheria: daugher Galla Placidia: sister
Palagius*
395-406 Honorarius 10
Augustine
11