fme_1009191 - GALERIUS Médaille, Reproduction d’un médaillon de bronze,de la tétrarchie, Galère, n°109

GALERIUS

(1/03/293-5/05/311)

Augustus

Galley was of humble origin. Chosen as Caesar on March 1 or May 1, 293, he was subordinate to Diocletian to help him govern the East. Galerius suffered a crushing defeat in 296 against the Sassanids but the following year he defeated Narses. According to Lactantius, he was at the origin of the persecution of Christians in 302-303. During Diocletian's illness, he pushes the latter to abdicate. Diocletian and Maximian leave power on May 1, 305 to Galerius and Constance who become august. The last six years of his life, he will helplessly witness the disintegration of the political regime created by Diocletian: the Tetrarchy. He died on May 5, 311 after having interrupted, five days before, the persecution against Christians.