Diocletian - Rome's First Retired Emperor

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[@Biographics]

Thanks to Athletic Greens for sponsoring this video. Click my link to get a 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D3K2 & 5 travel packs FREE with your first purchase!: athleticgreens.com/biographics

[@chasehedges6775]

Love your content

[@royalbroman9467]

Please do Spinoza!!

[@OptimusMaximusNero]

*Fun fact:* The walls that Diocletian built for his Palace in Dalmatia are so strong that they are still preserved today. In fact, an entire neighborhood is contained within these ancient walls, which gives a sensation similar to traveling in time. Not bad for a cabbage grower. Not bad at all...

[@brya9681]

Then the credit goes to the architects and builders

[@anarchyantz1564]

He did not build them. Architects and builders constructed them, why should he get the credit? What point are they now? A palace for a long dead person no one cares about? Tear them all down and use the land.

[@brya9681]

@@anarchyantz1564 I think they're good as world history so I'd hate if they were torn down, but I just don't like that all thepeople that actually do things get forgotten and the credit just goes to the guy that happened to be in charge at the time or has the money. Like people praise Elon Musk but that mf isn't one of the astrophysicist or engineers making those ships work

[@TSmith-yy3cc]

Split, Croatia for the record.

[@OptimusMaximusNero]

​​​​@@anarchyantz1564 It's a way of talking. I say he constructed them because he was the one who got the idea and ordered the planification and construction. Do not forget that Hadrian is also considered the "Builder Emperor" for his magnificent buildings, even though he obviously didn't made them with his own hands. Anyway, you should keep in mind that Diocletian surely was involved in the different choices taken during the construction of the Walls

[@OptimusMaximusNero]

You know that an Empire has its days numbered if the Emperor himself thinks that growing cabbages is worth more than protecting it.

[@chasehedges6775]

“MY CABBAGES!” - Roman Vegetable Seller probably

[@mism847]

And it still managed to last another century, that’s impressive

[@hewhoshallnotbenamed5168]

@@mism847 Ten centuries if you count the eastern portion of the empire.

[@OptimusMaximusNero]

​​@@mism847 Only because Constantine appeared. When Diocletian was retired, the Empire was again near its total destruction

[@SleepinGriffin]

Except it lasted until the 14th century.

[@Montgumerz]

a Retired Roman Emperor, that's about as rare as a day without Simon uploading some absolute gold. On one of his thousands of channels.

[@12jswilson]

Diocletion, Maximian, Julius Nepos, Glycerius, and Romulus Augustulus are the only western Roman emperors I can think of that didn't die to leave office. Of course Nepos kept insisting he was still emperor until he did die even though everyone else ignored him.

[@iDeathMaximuMII]

@@12jswilsonMaximian returned to power multiple times, wouldn’t count him either

[@denisivic5274]

Diocletian’s palace in Split, Croatia is quite a sight to see. I recommend entirely to everybody who is a history buff.

[@Longbonglongdong]

Thank you for reminding me of this random forgotten detail! My partner's dad was planning a trip there next year, will def put that on the itinerary :)

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:35 - Chapter 1 - Early years 3:05 - Mid roll ads 4:25 - Back to the video 6:25 - Chapter 2 - Rise to the throne 9:25 - Chapter 3 - The rule of two 13:40 - Chapter 4 - When 2 becomes 4 17:00 - Chapter 5 - Walking off into the sunset

[@Nasir3623]

Marcus Aurelius: pick his son. Empire: crisis mode. Diocletian: doesn’t pick his son Empire:crisis mode.

[@xhagast]

Damn.

[@williamfrank962]

That’s Rome for you.

[@manuelacosta9463]

It was Rome's sunset. Roman emperors never retired. They either stayed on the job till natural death, falling in battle or due to the lethal internal intrigues of the nobles. Diocletian was unique in that regard.

[@shinsenshogun900]

One should not be afraid of the nobility, it should be the praetorians that should be disciplined and honed to reject being parasites and paranoid backstabbers

[@nothingtoseaheardammit]

The cathedral in Diocletian's palace is, if I recall, the oldest church still performing regular services today. The palace is a great place to visit in Split.

[@predragkardashian3730]

Croatian town of Split was founded from Diocletian palace, You can still see on city plan that exact street plan and palace walls that is the city center today...

[@MaleviahBurned]

I'll never get tired of Roman leader biographics

[@btetschner]

Those people had guts.

[@DoomMomDot]

obtaining power is one thing. willingly giving it up? that takes a special person.

[@bigwhoop7929]

It's been a while since you guys covered Roman emperors. Hope you guys can do more! Great video, Simon!

[@kieranklein2527]

He hates covering Rome now since he's done it so much. Which makes it fun when he does it and probly screaming in his head how bored he is.

[@natsune09]

"Screw vos guys, cedentem sum." -Diocletian upon retiring

[@johnelcatsha6895]

Been waiting for this one, thanks!

[@tturi2]

I'm all for ancient history

[@chasehedges6775]

Same

[@btetschner]

A+ video! The stories of those Roman emperors is so fascinating, especially anything to do with the battles of the Tetrarchy. Those emperors must have thought about war all the time.

[@ittositto6494]

Steps to become a billionair: Step 1: be born into a family that own a shady gem mine

[@vincentkosik403]

Diocletian died a broken ruler...he saw his system break apart and when Galerius died from colon cancer, his daughter was his wife and fled to the Eastern Emperor Maximinus Daza. Daza had an idea to marry her and she refused. This did not go over well. Diocletian attempted to intervene and could even get a letter to Daza...what a snub. Ignored.... Needless to say, Galeria was. Eliminate maybe under Licinius. So, a ruler that did so much ended his life probably bitter and holed up in his fortress retirement palace in Split

[@donna25871]

I’ve visited Diocletian’s Palace in Split - it’s magnificent. But it no longer sits right up against the water (and the French came and built a mini Riviera next to it).

[@milionST]

Technically, palace walls were never adjacent to the sea, there was a small waterfront that was built in front of the southern facade, and expanded during medieval times. Afterwards, the old city evolved westwards during the times of autonomous medieval commune, Venice, French and Austrian rule. French did not build the ''riviera'', but expanded the waterfront (or as we locals call it, Riva) to the southwest and made some plans for representative construction development that were loosely followed afterwards, mostly during Austrian rule. The palace itself, or more precisely it's southern wall, was close to the sea up until 1954., when the old ancient / medieval port was filled up and turned into Riva (waterfront) we know today, occasion being the arrival of Ethiopian king Haile Selassie in Split.

[@pamelamays4186]

Radu. Are you new to the Blazement? Your script was very well written and informative.

[@lukeunderwood9832]

Idea: you should do a couple of video about the roman emperors of the Constantinian dynasty

[@daryllndemmayah4874]

Can you do Antoninus Puis next, even though a lot of people consider him boring. He is still regarded as a top 10 maybe top 6 emperor. He was regarded as probably the best administrator out of all the emperors except for Augustus. I don’t think of any emperor who wasn’t a soldier that came close to his administrative skills other than Augustus and maybe Claudius . Everybody else where either great generals or builders.

[@TheBobRock57]

19:30 Diokletian palace is center of my hometown, Split, Croatia. That part of Croatia is still known as Dalmatia. So that makes me a Dalmatian 😅. Romans called it Province of Dalmatia becouse there was Iliric tribe of Dalmatians living there

[@Simonsvids]

In England, which is in Europe, we write 'centre'. 'Center' is American spelling.

[@Ritte13]

So if you were from Sardinia would you be a sardine 😂

[@stipe3124]

It is an irony that his mausoleum is now a church, guy was anti Christian and his resting place is church and a simbol of a city which grew from his Palace

[@btetschner]

They should create a new KZbin channel about Roman Emperors, with Simon Whistler hosting of course.

[@rafisanders]

All the man wanted to do was plant his cabbages. What a Chad

[@somebodyoncetoldme5203]

We need a video about Aurelian!

[@hewhoshallnotbenamed5168]

Yo, when we gonna get that Caracalla video!?

[@davidphipps9138]

Him going home to Split is why today, when someone says they’re leaving, they say, “I’m going to split.”

[@russellcarter1640]

PLEASE do a bio on Carausius!!!

[@jamescarter5883]

This video was great. Could you do a video on Anastasio Bustamante (the president during the First French Intervention)?

[@btetschner]

That is unbelievable that he killed Aper in front of the army! I had to watch the video over again to make sure I heard that right.

[@iwatchDVDsonXbox360]

Thanks. Maybe, Antoninus Pius next?

[@zitrandy]

No use doing the commercials for AG1 - I just turn the sound down and look away 'til it's over.

[@jejbsh2191]

He doesn't give a motherfu@$ what you do he gets paid regardless lol

[@PeachM0de]

Obviously he did well; otherwise you wouldn’t be talking about him Simon.

[@chasehedges6775]

Biographics is awesome and I love Roman History

[@cgt3704]

19:41 Though it should be noted that it is considered that he actually commited suicide out of despair.

[@Lady_Asylum]

Last time I was this early for a video was never

[@wesadams5128]

It's surprising you don't hear about this guy that much. He seemed like a decent ruler

[@theawesomeman9821]

he also persecuted Christians so I wouldn't say he was too much of a decent ruler.

[@williamfrank962]

Diocletian is one of those leaders in history where he’s both behind great leaders (Augustus, Trajan, Hadrian) and in front of (Constantine, Justinian and Basil ii) the man is a good leader don’t get me wrong but I think it’s because of two main reason. One was the reason that above there’s more interesting people around him and that he persecuted the Christian population ruthlessly and after hundreds of years of Christianity they wouldn’t be praising his name.

[@bradlevantis913]

I’m usually not so keen on the Roman stuff but I greatly enjoyed this one. Thanks

[@thecat5872]

So I guess no Caracalla video then? 😢

[@yez3749]

What a majestic beard Simon

[@davidbridge5652]

Diocletian would approve of athletic greens

[@promiscuous675]

Thank you.

[@rmaxwinters]

The Star Wars reference of the rule of two was superb

[@BA-gn3qb]

If only the US Congress members would retire after a few years. But they're too damn greedy.

[@nikobellic7827]

Hey man love your videos why don't make a video about Sheikh Mujibur Rahman or other leaders from South Asia.

[@varunrajesh6516]

Now I'm convinced Simon is showing a disgusted face on purpose after drinking that green smoothie. He says "It's great" right after making that face. This is the second time I've seen it!

[@dogewood5499]

I remember back in 2019, I began digging deep into Occult research and ancient philosophy along with some extensive alternative archaeological research. Around this time I had a dream about “DIOCLETIAN II”: an Angel in my dream had those words hovering above his head and he was pointing at me. I went and looked up just what DIOCLETIAN meant and I learned about one of the greatest Roman Emperors next to Marcus Aurelius. Maybe I’m the second Diocletian in spirit? Maybe I’m insane, but from then onwards, I have more respect for Old Rome and their beliefs than anything that came after his great reign ended…

[@PricelessAudiobooks]

00:03 The Roman Empire was in complete Anarchy in the first century A.D., with constant incursions from Barbarian tribes, Civil Wars, peasant rebellions, the debasement of the currency, a collapsing economy, and even a plague. 00:43 The Roman Empire saw over 20 Emperors in 50 years, and the empire's existence was threatened if another capable Emperor didn't finish what Aurelian had started. 01:12 Diocletian was born in 245 A.D. in the Roman province of Dalmatia and later adopted the more grandiose appellation of Garas Aurelius Valeria's dark Lucianus. His father was either a scribe or a formerly enslaved person, and his mother's name has been lost amid History. 02:17 Diocletian chose the military route to climb up the social ladder, and he must have been a pretty skilled Warrior and military commander because he was promoted to Domesticus Regans. 03:16 Ag-1 is a nutritional supplement containing 75 vitamins, minerals, and Whole Food Source ingredients essential for your body's well-being. It tastes great and extends the energy that coffee gives you. 04:00 If you want to get started with our leader greens, you can get a one-year supply of Vitamin D3 and five of these travel packs by clicking the link in the description below. 04:23 Carus, the Emperor then, bestowed the title of Caesar on his two sons, making them Junior Emperors. 04:42 In early 283 A.d., Car has decided to renew the Rivalry with one of Rome's classic foes, Persia, but he didn't achieve his goal and died sometime during the summer of 283. 05:32 Carlisle was in Gaul trying to suppress revolts, but Numerian assumed control of the army and tried to settle things in the area before marching back to Rome. However, he also fell ill and died while riding around in an enclosed litter carried by troops. 06:25 After Numerian's death, an emergency Council was held to decide who would be the new Roman Emperor. Diocletian was proclaimed the new Emperor after accusing Aber of assassinating Mariam. 06:59 Diocletian knew that he couldn't do everything himself and never tried. He selected Lucius Saisonius Bassas as his sidekick, which had a double effect: it rejected Karanis's Authority and any idea that they would rule together, especially with himself as the junior colleague. 08:07 Diocletian knew the golden rule of a long and stable Reign: you needed the support of at least two of Rome's three major groups. He allied himself with Basses to show this. 08:35 Karenus was the odds-on favorite to win the Battle of Margas River. Still, the referee awarded the victory to Diocletian via assassination with murky details, so the fight cooled off. 09:11 Karen was dead, so Diocletian became the sole ruler of the Roman Empire. He divided the Empire into two halves, with one Emperor ruling the west and another leading the east, but he snubbed one of his fellow console basses for the position. 10:15 Diocletian selected one of his most trusted generals, Maximian, and gave him the title of Caesar, and then Augustus, equal to Diocletian but with authority to veto any decisions made by the latter. 10:55 Diocletian had never been a fan of Rome, so he selected Nicomedia as the new capital of the eastern half of the Empire, and his trusty sidekick Maximian followed suit, moving his Capital to Medialarnum, better known today as Milan. 11:55 Maximian had his work cut out since his side of the empire was far more susceptible to Germanic incursions. However, he was bested by one of his own officers, who revolted and claimed Britain as a northern Gaul for himself. 12:48 The Emperors had to accept a humiliating peace with Caracas, so they focused their wrath on the Germanic tribes that kept invading from the north, particularly the Alemany. Diocletian instituted the tricky, or the rule of four, which followed the Sith guidelines for each half of the Empire, always two. 14:32 Diocletian selected Constantius as his Caesar, named Galerius as his own Caesar, and gave them both their daughter's hands in marriage. Constantius had it the hardest since he now had to deal with Karasias; he eventually regained all the territories once lost to the usurper. 15:27 The Sasanian Empire, under a new king named Narcis, declared war on the Roman Empire and invaded Armenia, then Syria, so a pitched battle between the two sides became inevitable. The young Caesar was humiliated in public by Diocletian. Still, he launched a successful counter-attack on Narcissus, pushing the Sasanians out of the Roman Empire and delivering them a crushing defeat at Satala in 198 A.d. before advancing into Persian territory and capturing the Sasanian capital of Stessifon. 17:00 Diocletian, the Emperor of the Roman Empire, successfully ridden his kingdom of external threats but turned his gaze inwards to see who threatened the Empire from within. The answer was those pesky Christians. 17:56 The Great Persecution was a period of harsh persecution for Roman Christians that lasted from 303 to 311 A.D. and was influential in eradicating Christianity from the Empire. 18:23 Diocletian suffered a big health scare in 304 A.D. However, he survived and realized he was getting too old for this bit. 18:42 Diocletian, who wasn't a guy who had problems letting go of power, abdicated and persuaded Maximian to do the same thing for Constantius, then retreated to his Palace and his homeland of Dalmatia. He spent most of his time tending to vegetables. 19:38 Diocletian died peacefully of old age Circa 311 A.D. He lived long enough to see his tricky fail and collapse into chaos, plunging Rome into Total War again.

[@MrMooemoney]

He started the feudal system with his reforms I think.....

[@ivanrivera777]

He was a simple man, even his palace was small at 7.5 acres compared to others specially Hadrian's 300 acres behemoth villa.

[@natedcarr6148]

Anyone else notice the yellow band-aid on Simon's right pinkie? Could it be he survived a Roman assassination attempt? 😱

[@rwarren58]

This was actually peaceful as well as informative. Good job, Simon.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Do Constantine the Great next!

[@chasehedges6775]

And Commodus and Marcus Aurelius

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

@@chasehedges6775 He already did those 2

[@btetschner]

I second that!

[@Lemonator5]

Day 1 of asking for Flavius Belisarius, general of the Eastern Roman Empire!

[@willowmoon7]

Awesome video, but you'll be hearing from my lawyer about the whiplash I got from the ad transition.

[@Pennysfishkeeping]

Wait, a Roman politician actually made it to retirement successfully?

[@royalbroman9467]

Please do Spinoza!!

[@LowellBurns]

can u plz do a bio on Majorian? he's one of the most underappreciated roman emperors.

[@caesarofslytherin]

He reunited the Roman Empire after conquering the Palmyrine Empire (the provinces of Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Asia Minor that broke away from the empire) and the Gallic Empire (the provinces of Britannia and Gaul that also broke away from the empire). Aurelian also reformed and re-inaugurated the worship of the Roman sun god Sol by establishing the cult of Sol Invictus (Unconquered Sun) alongside the cults of Rome’s traditional deities on December 25, 274 AD. Prior to Christianity becoming the official religion of the Roman Empire, Sol Invictus served not only as the Roman sun god but as the patron of soldiers.

[@vitorpereira9515]

You jumped a few caesars but hokay.

[@artemisarrow179]

Oh boy new Roman emperor video :D

[@styxzero1675]

The best leaders tend to be the ones who didn't want the job in the first place... I feel like he saw at as a necessity rather than something he deeply desired like most other emperors.

[@smileyface3956]

As song writer I am glad that you finnaly made a video about Diocletan. I made two songs about him. Since I live in Croatia we were thaought in schools since childhood about him I find him as one of the best world leaders about him. My two of the greatest songs are about him if only we croats could get a new diocletian

[@djpalindrome]

Rubbish. He conducted the worst persecution of Christians in history

[@djpalindrome]

No thanks; we don’t need another bloodthirsty tyrant who persecuted the Christians. Shame on you

[@smileyface3956]

@@djpalindrome And so... It does not matter he was still a great leader

[@12jswilson]

Diocletian's ideas about how to run the empire lasted exactly as long as Diocletian himself was the one executing those ideas

[@jesseeheilbronn4958]

Knowing Simon hates anything Ancient Rome, it cracks me up every time one goes live.

[@micahorr8669]

Anyone know what the music in the background is?

[@jaskrip]

Surprised there's not a vid on Constantine the Great yet. Aurelian, Justinian, Theodora and Basil II all deserve videos aswell.

[@Iamthestig42069]

His retirement home is still standing today

[@segasupernova5121]

Finally!!

[@Nick-hi9gx]

It is a myth that Diocletian retired, that he himself started. He actually got a promotion, which he gave himself, to Cabbage Farming Kingmaker. Much less dangerous job, nobody was sure whether unity and stability would last, it wasn't like historians were walking around "ahh yes, Diocletian ended the Crisis of the Third Century,". Emperors being assassinated was still like...only a couple decades old. So he's like "here are a ton of awful reforms, and a Tetrarchy that won't last a generation, time for cabbages lawl,". But then absolutely didn't actually retire like her pretended and had his hand in the game of emperors until he died.

[@tysonsiemens9009]

PLEASE do a biographics episode of Gotz of the iron hand

[@lirrobinson8377]

All of Rome: "Diocletian, we need you to be the emperor again!" Diocletian: "Na, have you seen these cabbages?"

[@Aemilius46]

Diocletian is one of my favorite and beloved Emperor's!!! Tied with Marcus Aurelius, Hadrian, Aurelian, Trajan, Constantine The Great, Justinian The Great, and Basil II! 🛡️🗡️✨

[@kevinwall3419]

I would like to request a bio on great economist Thomas Sowell

[@bepkororoti2559]

I live in the city which was founded on his palace on the mediterranean coast....

[@sanfransimo]

How is it that you see fit to cover Diocletian before Aurelian?

[@darrenangus6919]

What about casual criminalist

[@TheCastIronChancellor]

Simon's favorite video: Rome and Star wars...

[@gameryazov8327]

"If only you saw the majestic cabbages I was growing back home, you too would give up the pursuit of worldly power." - Diocletian, cabbage farmer

[@daniloonuk]

Great one, some troublesome rulers of Rome.

[@Jordi7174]

The Roman Empaaa 😂

[@danielknapp5189]

For someone who dosen't watch Star Wars, Simon knows alot about it. Okay, yes, he might have seen it sometime.

[@arilikesbread1218]

My family history shows I’m a decendant of this guy 😭

[@mariocroatia9321]

Come to the city of Split in Croatia.Around 4000 people still live inside his palace

[@thcdreams654]

He was also one of the Emperor of Mankind's Custodes, gene forged personal bodyguards.

[@kuronoch.1441]

That's basically Claudius Gothicus and his Illyrian contingent. (Aurelian, Probus, Carus, Diocletian, Maximian, Galerius, Constantius)

[@barrydysert2974]

"Died peacefully in His sleep." Is this the first and last time that could be said of a Roman emperor?

[@kadynchadwell1682]

Can we get a prryhus video pls.

[@hejhej6956]

one of the greatest emperors Rome had!

[@djpalindrome]

The most bloodthirsty tyrant of all times. Created more Christian martyrs than everyone else combined

[@v.emiltheii-nd.8094]

I noticed that finger bandage Simon! What hurt you? ..also N. Ceausescu when?

[@leebishop7591]

Sith reference...🤘🏾

[@Aztesticals]

Damn if this guy had hammered out the 4 person system better.

[@lordofthereels6790]

I'd love one of these on Texas Tejano legend Selena

[@ugoeze7360]

“Screw you guys, I’m retiring.” - Diocletian, probably

[@kai56k57]

We need a video about Aurelian. The only emperor greater than Trajan and luckier than Augustus.

[@vulpes7079]

Luckier?

[@gameryazov8327]

Restitutor Orbis, absolute chad

[@padawanmage71]

"Just look at these cabbages!: "Yes, Emperor, but what does your wife have to do with coming back?"

[@pakde8002]

A well grown cabbage is pretty satisfying.

[@ikelove6784]

I would like to request a episode on August Von Mackenson not further explanation will be given

[@overwhelmingapathy721]

Egone ius Petrus?