the foremost
of the Neo-Persian monarchs, and may compare favorably with almost any
prince of the series. He baffled Odenathus, when he was not able to
defeat him, by placing himself behind walls, and by bringing into play
those advantages which naturally belonged to the position of a monarch
attacked in his own country. He maintained, if he did not permanently
advance, the power of Persia in the West, while in the East it is
probable that he considerably extended the bounds of his dominion.

To the internal administration of his empire he united works of
usefulness with the construction of memorials which had only a
sentimental and aesthetic value. He was a liberal patron of art and is
thought not to have confined his patronage to the encouragement of
native talent. On the subject of religion he did not suffer himself to
be permanently led away by the enthusiasm of a young and bold
freethinker. He decided to maintain the religious system that had
descended to him from his ancestors, and turned a deaf ear to
persuasions that would have led him to revolutionize the religious
opinion of the East without placing it upon a satisfactory footing. The
orientals add to these commendable features of character that he was a
man of remarkable beauty, of great personal courage, and of a noble and
princely liberality. According to them, "he only desired wealth that he
might use it for good and great purposes."

CONVERSION OF CONSTANTINE

DECLINE OF PAGANISM

A.D. 300-337

JOHANN LORENZ VON MOSHEIM

A new epoch in the history of the Roman Empire began with the
accession of Diocletian to the throne in A.D. 284. From that time
the old names of consul, tribune, etc., belonging to the republic
lost their significance, and even the senate was practically
abolished. Thenceforth the empire became an oriental sovereignty.
In the year 292, having previously associated with himself one
colleague, Maximianus Herculius, Diocletian created two Caesars: the
one, Galerius Maximianus, to act as his subordinate in the East;
the other, Constantius Chlorus, to divide the government of the
western provinces with Maximianus Herculius. Each of these emperors
ruled with vigor in his own territory, defending the frontiers of
the empire and also suppressing such revolts as broke out within
its borders.

But these transformations in the empire were preparing the way for