ABSTRACT
Fresh stability for the Roman empire came with the accession of Diocletian, a battle-hardened warrior from the imperial bodyguard, in 284. One of the great accomplishments of his reign, which he shared with three other rulers (Maximian, Galerius and Constantius, forming a so-called tetrarchy) was the peace he secured in 297 with the Sasanian king Narseh (Narses) in the socalled treaty of Nisibis. In accordance with this peace, Rome’s eastern frontier was shied east of the Euphrates, to the Habur river. In Syria, Diocletian strengthened the frontier areas with a series of fortications, and rebuilt a number of Syria’s strategically important roads, thus greatly facilitating communication-links and rapid movement of troops in the empire’s eastern regions. is contributed much to Syria’s sense of stability and well-being during Diocletian’s reign, greatly enhancing, through the peaceful conditions thus created, the region’s overall prosperity.
