With his own hands Diocletian placed upon Galerius’ head a pearlstudded circlet and draped a robe of rich purple about the shoulders of the new Augustus. The old Emperor had kept his own circlet of pearls upon his head and his own robe about his shoulders, however, as a reminder, Constantine was sure, to the new ruler that he could emerge from retirement and renew the purple whenever he wished.
“At this moment,” Diocletian announced as Galerius was taking his seat upon the highest throne, “my fellow Augustus, Marcus
Aurelius Valerius Maximianus Herculius, is abdicating his royal position in accordance with a promise made by both of us twenty years ago. In his stead, I appoint to rule as Augustus of the West, Flavius Valerius Constantius Chlorus.”
A roar of applause far greater than that which had marked the ascent of Galerius to the throne greeted this announcement. Constantine felt his heart swell with pride at the spontaneous tribute to his father, but when he glanced at Galerius’ scowling face, he could see that the new Augustus felt no pleasure at the popularity of his colleague in the West.
Silence the tribute to Constantius
Diocletian had made no attempt to silence the tribute to Constantius; only when the applause had died away, did he announce: “The naming of the new Caesars who, as Filii Augusti, will share rule with the new Emperors, I have left to Augustus Galerius.”
Galerius did not rise but nodded to Carinus, who unrolled a second scroll. “As Caesar of the West,” he read, “it pleases us to appoint” Carinus paused momentarily, conscious of the eagerness with which the crowd was awaiting the name “Flavius Valerius Severus.”
Severus had been standing with other highranking officers back of Galerius’ throne upon the lower level. Now he stepped from the group and ascended to the higher platform, where Galerius sat with Diocletian standing beside him. Constantine had always respected Severus, in spite of his close ties with Galerius. But he was human enough to envy the other man the purple cloak of a Caesar that Diocletian now draped about his shoulders.
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