fused to be enrolled in the
armies, and suffered death sooner than enlist--was the last great act of
Diocletian. Whether wearied with the cares of State, or disgusted with his
duties, or ill, or craving rest and repose, he took the extraordinary
resolution of abdicating his throne, at the very summit of his power, and
at the age of fifty-nine. He influenced Maximian to do the same, and the
two Augusti gave place to the two Caesars. The double act of resignation
was performed at Nicomedia and Milan, on the same day, May 1, A.D. 305.
Diocletian took a graceful farewell of his soldiers, and withdrew to a
retreat near his native city of Salonae, on the coast of the Adriatic. He
withdrew to a magnificent palace, which he had built on a square of six
hundred feet, in a lovely and fertile spot, in sight of the sea, and the
mountains, and luxurious plains. He there devoted himself to the pleasures
of agriculture, and planted cabbages with his own hand, and refused all
solicitations to resume his power. But his repose was alloyed by the sight
of increasing troubles, and the failure of the system he had inaugurated.
If the empire could not be governed by one master, it could not be
governed by four, with their different policies and rivalries. He lived
but nine years in retirement; but long enough to see his religious policy
reversed, by the edict of Milan, which confirmed the Christian religion,
and the whole imperial fabric which he had framed reversed by Constantine.

(M1129) Confusion followed his abdication. Civil wars instead of barbaric
wasted the empire. The ancient heart of the empire had no longer the
presence of an Augustus, and a new partition virtually took place, by
which Italy and Africa became dependencies of the East. Galerius--now
Augustus--assumed the right to nominate the two new Caesars, one of whom was
his sister's son, who assumed the name of Galerius Valerius Maximinus, to
whom were assigned Syria and Egypt, and the other was his faithful
servant, Severus, who was placed over Italy and Africa. According to the
forms of the constitution, he was subordinate to Constantius, but he was
devoted to Galerius. The emperor Constantius, then in Boulogne, was dying,
and his son, Constantine, was at the court of Galerius. Though summoned to
the bedside of his father, Galerius sought to retain him, but Constantine
abruptly left Nicomedia, evaded Severus, traversed Europe, and reached his
father, who was just setting out