10-16-2012, 05:20 PM
Quote:the rise of Diocletian. This is the Emperor who not only abolished Rome as capital (never even setting foot there)
IIRC Diocletian did visit Rome but wasn't impressed by its people.
Quote:From the above, it is either the rise of the Severans or the rise of Diocletian and the Tetrarchy that has to be seen as the end of the good-old Roman Empire.
How about c 268 CE when the Illyrians replaced Gallienus? The latter and his father were from an old and distinguished family whereas the Illyrian emperors had more humble origins.