Because there were two emperors “When one died there was uncertainty which might have led to civil war” so Diocletian declared that each emperor would have to choose a man to be his Caesar or heir. These Caesars would take over for an emperor when they died and had authority in the empire as well. In the west the Augustus was Maximian and Diocletian in the east. Maximian chose Constantius as his Caesar and Diocletian chose Galerius as his. This system worked for some time until Maximian and Diocletian both abdicated in 305 C.E.. Now Constantanius ruled the west and Galerius ruled the east. Constantantanius appointed Maximinus as his Caesar and in the east Flavius Valerius was Galerius’s Caesar. After Constantanius died of Leukemia many thought that Constantine would become emperor, but Severus was promoted to the position. So, the current situation was this; Severus is Augustus in the west and in the east Galerius ruled with Flavius Valerius as his Caesar. These arrangements did not last though because through a slight civil war, secret killings, betrayal, and a battle to decide it all in 312 C.E. Constantine 1 defeated all rivals to western Rome’s throne and he the famous Constantine I was named emperor of western Rome. Now after all of …show more content…
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