Tetrarchy
The Tetrarchs, a porphyry sculpture sacked from a Byzantine palace in 1204, Treasury of St. Marks, Venice
The
Tetrarchy ("leadership of four") was a system of government created in
293 AD by the
Roman Emperor Diocletian in order to solve serious military and economic problems in the
Roman Empire. This involved dividing his power over the empire into east and west sectors: he retained control of the East and his colleague
Maximian controlled the west. Eight years later, feeling more focus was needed on both civic and military problems, he furthered the division of power by naming one "Junior Emperor", or
Caesar, under each "Senior Emperor", or
Augustus. Thus the Tetrarchy, a rule of four, was established and lasted until c.
324.
The first tetrarchs were