(n) Roman Emperor who when faced with military problems decided in 286 to divide the Roman Empire between himself in the east and Maximian in the west; he initiated the last persecution of the Christians in 303 (245-313), Syn. Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletian
(n) Roman Emperor from 286 until he abdicated in 305; when Diocletian divided the Roman Empire in 286 Maximian became emperor in the west (died in 311), Syn. Herculius, Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus