Augusti Retirement

Emperors of Rome

La Trobe University

Rome, Caillan Davenport, Roman History, Roman Emire, La Trobe University, Rhiannon Evans, Julius Caesar, History, Caesar, Biography, Ancient History, Roman Emperors, Emperor

4.8 • 1.7K Ratings

🗓️ 24 April 2026

⏱️ 31 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In 305 CE, a carefully staged transition took place: the emperors Diocletian and Maximian retired, handing power to a new generation of rulers. Exactly how it happened is still debated, but the act itself was unprecedented in the long history of the Roman Empire.

Support Emperors of Rome on Patreon: patreon.com/romepodcast

Episode CCLV (255)

Part VII of Diocletian

Guest: Professor Caillan Davenport (Centre for Classical Studies, Australian National University)

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Emperors of Rome is a listener-supported podcast.
0:03.2	To find out more, help keep us on air and get some fairly cool perks.
0:07.4	Go to patreon.com forward slash Rome podcast.
0:16.2	Arve and welcome to Emperors of Rome.
0:19.3	I'm your host Matt Smith and with me today is Professor
0:22.1	Kalyn Davenport, head of the Centre for Classical Studies at the Australian National University.
0:27.9	This is episode CCLV. Augusti Retirement. In 305 CE, a carefully staged transition took place.
0:37.7	The Emperor's Diocletian and Maximian retired,
0:40.7	handing power to a new generation of rulers.
0:43.9	Exactly how it happened is still debated,
0:46.4	but the act itself was unprecedented in the long history of the Roman Empire.
0:51.5	Here's Cail in Davenport.
0:53.5	In the year 303, something happens in the Roman Empire that I'm not sure how long it's
1:00.3	been since they've had the opportunity to celebrate like this for quite a long time.
1:05.5	Diocletian reaches this 20th year of his reign, which is an excuse for both a hanging and a party, or perhaps
1:12.6	a bit of both.
1:13.6	I know, it's quite miraculous, isn't it?
1:15.6	You know, 20 years.
1:17.4	I mean, even Timius Severus didn't make it to 20 years.
1:21.5	Yeah, wow.
1:22.4	Yeah, he died in 211.
1:24.1	Yeah.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from La Trobe University, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of La Trobe University and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.