Journal of Late Antiquity

Abstract:

In autumn 303 Diocletian visited Rome to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of his reign. Even though there is no explicit documentary confirmation, Constantine was most likely a member of his entourage. During this visit Constantine probably met Fausta, his future wife, and he would have learned about the city's new fortifications. He also could have met many important senators and their sons, and he would have evaluated Diocletian's behavior as a Tetrarchic emperor at Rome. This experience would strongly influence Constantine's own actions and policies when he returned to Rome in October 312. He defeated Fausta's brother, Maxentius, he promoted senators, and he expanded senatorial rank. He also adopted a "senatorial" style of emperorship that rejected or transformed aspects of Diocletian's Tetrarchic model of imperial rule.