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Caius Valerius Diocletianus, one of the most famous of the Roman emperors, was, as De Quincey says, "doubtless that man of iron whom the times demanded." He was born at Dioclea, in Dalmatia, some say at Salona, about A.D. 245 according to some, but others make him ten years older. His original name was Diocles, which he afterward changed into Diocletianus.
The second source of Western tradition was held to be that still more famous collection of stories commonly known by the name of the 'Story of the Seven Sages, but which, under many names Kaiser Octavianus, Diocletianus, Dolopathos, Erastus, etc. plays a most important part in mediaeval romance.
He lengthened his name out to Diocletianus, to sound more imperial, and began a dominion unlike that of any who had gone before. They had only been, as it were, overgrown generals, chosen by the Prætorians or some part of the army, and at the same time taking the tribuneship and other offices for life. Diocletian, though called Emperor, reigned like the kings of the East.
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