Page "Diocletian" Paragraph 23

In the East, Diocletian engaged in diplomacy with desert tribes in the regions between Rome and Persia.

He might have been attempting to persuade them to ally themselves with Rome, thus reviving the old, Rome-friendly, Palmyrene sphere of influence, or simply attempting to reduce the frequency of their incursions.

No details survive for these events.

Some of the princes of these states were Persian client kings ; a disturbing fact in light of increasing tensions with that kingdom.

In the West, Maximian lost the fleet built in 288 and 289, probably in the early spring of 290.

The panegyrist who refers to the loss suggests that its cause was a storm, but this might simply be the panegyrist's attempt to conceal an embarrassing military defeat.

Diocletian broke off his tour of the Eastern provinces soon thereafter.

He returned with haste to the West, reaching Emesa by 10 May 290, and Sirmium on the Danube by 1 July 290.