ABSTRACT
W E have finished with the account of the remedies employed by the Roman Emperors, especially by Diocletian and Constantine, to put a stop to the dissolution of the State and of Society. We have seen them completing the transformation of the imperium of republican origin into a monarchical power ; trying the tetrarchy system and then the division of the Empire into two halves ; changing the organization of the army in order both to tame the legions and to adapt them to the new requirements of tactics ; and re-moulding the system of imposts with a view to unification and simplification, and also the better to squeeze the tax payer. We have seen Constantine substituting for the administration by magistrates, the method of the comitiva in the central and provincial administration, that is to say, absolute government by the “ friends ” of the princeps, while at the same time completing the separation between the military and civil functions and giving pre-eminence to the latter. We have spoken of his efforts to improve civil and criminal law as well as procedure. Lastly, we have studied the establishment of a real caste system by means of the institution of a hierarchy of functions and by the obligation imposed on every one of continuing in his occupation to the end of his life and of handing it on to his children. At the same time, impelled by an inspiration of unparalleled boldness, the Emperor, breaking with the most venerable traditions, set about changing the religion of the Empire.
