DIOCLESIAN, 
a the hopes of gua and the whole ae of the’ people 
ere put out of the proteétion of the law. The judges 
were authorifed to Thee and to determine every ation that 
was brought againft the Chriftians; but the Chriftians were 
mplain of any injury which they them- 
S 
moft confpicuous place of Nic 
by the hands of a Chriftian, who is faid, at the 
f 
or to im to alter the fteady and infultiog {mile 
which, in dying agonies, he ftill exhibited in his 
countenance. ithin 15 days after the firft edi& was iffued, 
the palace of Nicomedia, and even the bed-chamber ae Dio- 
clefian, were twice in flames; and though they were ex- 
tinguifhed without any material damage, the repetition . 
that 1 
pag gece who 
them. 
urthe 
temel eas and which lafted ten years; fee PEeRsE- 
CUT 
The ‘usu work of refcuing the diftreffed empire 
from tyrants and barbarians having been preuneuee! at- 
chieved, and Dioclefian having entered into the twentiet 
03, he celebrated ee memorable 
3 his only one nion in 
Tis aot which was dignified and {plendid, was the latt 
t Rome ever beheld; for foon after this period, the em- 
on ceafed to vanquith, and Rome ceafed to be a capital of 
the empire. Whilft Maximian fixed his refidence at Milan, 
Dioclefian employed his leifure, and the wealth oe e Eaft, 
Civil magiitracies, and their modeft titles of conful, procon- 
ful, cenfor, and tribune, were laid afide, ca fp ie dignity 
and correfponding titles were aflumed. the attributes, 
or at leaft the titles of the divinity, were singed by eae 
ian and Maximian, who tran{mitte em toa fucceffion of 
i ioclefian Seer ee the flately mag- 
Pe as court; he affumcd the diadem 
though detefted by th e Romans, as 
royalty ; and his i apracus robes, aud thofe of his fucceffors, 
were of filk and gold; and it is remarked with indignation, 
thateven theirfhoes were ftudded withthemoft precious gems, 
on the verge of 
ifta 
the odious enfign of 
Accefs to their facred perfons was wae bes Apion thore 
difficult, by the inftitution of new forms and ceremonies. 
The avenues of the palace were ftrily cae. and the 
paced apartments were entrufted to the jealous vigilance of 
uchs, the increafe of whofe number and influence was the 
mel infallible fymptom of the progrefs of defpotifm. When 
a fubject was at length introduced into the imperial prefence, 
fe was obliged, whatever might be his a to fall ht 
on the ground, ore, according to the Ealter 
‘fafhion, the divinity of his lord and mafter. The firit prin- 
ciple of the new fyftem inftituted by Dioclefian, was cies n= 
tation, and the fecond divifion ; for he divided the empire, 
the provinces, and every branch of the civil, as well as mili- 
tary adminiftration; and 
courfe few hea oceafioned the perpetual feparation of 
the-eaftern an ern eabe under pie fyftem introduced 
by Dioclefian. The of minifters, of magiltrates; of 
officers, and of feryante gate filled the di ferent departments 
xample; and of 
the 
e he arrived at Nicomedia, t 
the end of the ane "A.D. 304, became very ferious and 
alarming. During the whole winter he was confined’to his: 
palace; and his danger occafioned a very general alarm. The 
rumour of is pies was eerie - very genera eh bee 
and i thought that event was kept con 
cealed ‘ill the el of Galerius, left the fol “ne fhoald, j in: 
t 
D. 
he once more appeared in public, but fo pale and peer 
that he couldcarcely have been recognized by thofe to whom 
his perfon was the moft familiar. Galerius, who had already 
threatened Maximian with a civil war, if he did not refign 
the empire, arrived about this time at Nicomedia; with a. 
view of oo iging oe likewife to furrender the fove- 
nce he was no longer able to difcharge the fune- 
ns of the imperial oem: Whilft the emperor demur- 
a offering, however, to fhare the empire with him and Con- 
ftantius, Cl told a plainly, that if he did bn refign 
willingly, he would force him to “ie ate. It was at length: 
n fhould renounce the 
the form of government intreduced by Diocletian, two new 
kth mee be appoint ig eee meafures, on the part 
the execution of the 
med, even dur- 
is abdication was performed on the 
ceremony 
May, A.D. 305, in a fpacious plain, about three miles from 
Nicomedia. The emperor afcended a lofty throne, and ina 
{peech, full of reafon and dignity, declared his intention, 
both to the people eee eae who were affembled on: 
As foon as he had sine 
d it to Maxi ximin, whom a 
withdrew auliinde 
country of Dalmatia. 
had been previoufly co emperors, 
made his refignation of ie imperial dignity at- Mil fam tran 
ng. 
