ABSTRACT
After Alexander Severus, the last of the dynasty of that name, had been assassinated in 235 the empire suffered fifty years of confusion and disaster. During that time, usually called the military anarchy, there were more than sixteen official and many more unofficial emperors. It was only Diocletian who succeeded in bringing back stability and peace. His success was due to three major changes. He became an absolute monarch, he divided the empire among four co-rulers and he reorganised the administration.1 The changes he instigated were worked out by his successor Constantine. The latter also made another important break with the past in that he tolerated Christianity which was later even recognised as the state religion.
