Emperor Diocletian

Diocletian was Roman emperor from 284 to 305 CE and is most famous for bringing political stability after the severe military and economic crises of the third century. He achieved this by reorganizing the imperial government and vastly increasing the civil service. His reign effectively secured the survival of the empire for several more centuries.

The Tetrarchy, introduced by Diocletian in 293 CE, was a governmental system designed to end the cycle of civil wars over imperial succession. He divided the massive Roman Empire into four distinct zones of control, ruled by two senior emperors (the Augusti) and two junior colleagues (the Caesares). This system brought much-needed order to the provinces.

In a highly unusual move for a Roman emperor, Diocletian voluntarily abdicated the throne in 305 CE due to illness. He retired to his massive, sprawling palace complex near his hometown in modern-day Split, Croatia. He famously spent his final days gardening and avoided the political demands of his former office.

Yes, Diocletian initiated the "Great Persecution" in 303 CE, which was the largest and bloodiest official persecution of Christians in the history of the Roman Empire. He issued a series of edicts that stripped Christians of legal rights, destroyed their scriptures, and demanded they perform sacrifices to Roman gods. This persecution continued until it was halted by Emperor Constantine years later.