Page "Diocletian" Paragraph 51

Maximian retired to villas in Campania or Lucania.

Their homes were distant from political life, but Diocletian and Maximian were close enough to remain in regular contact with each other.

Galerius assumed the consular fasces in 308 with Diocletian as his colleague.

In the autumn of 308, Galerius again conferred with Diocletian at Carnuntum ( Petronell-Carnuntum, Austria ).

Diocletian and Maximian were both present on 11 November 308, to see Galerius appoint Licinius to be Augustus in place of Severus, who had died at the hands of Maxentius.

He ordered Maximian, who had attempted to return to power after his retirement, to step down permanently.

At Carnuntum people begged Diocletian to return to the throne, to resolve the conflicts that had arisen through Constantine's rise to power and Maxentius ' usurpation.

Diocletian's reply: " If you could show the cabbage that I planted with my own hands to your emperor, he definitely wouldn't dare suggest that I replace the peace and happiness of this place with the storms of a never-satisfied greed.