“And the new Caesars?”
“They will be selected by Galerius. Your father has agreed to this, rather than accept Maxentius. But you will be well rewarded, Constantine. When I die you will be one of the richest men in the Empire.” Diocletian’s voice was warm, but it could not take away the chill that had settled over Constantine’s heart. “I know how you must feel now and I wouldn’t blame you for hating me, though I hope not for long.”
“Not ever, Dominus. What I have become I owe to you.”
Diocletian shook his head. “Not to me but to the seed that kindled life in your mother’s womb. I merely furnished fertile soil so the transplanted slip could grow into a strong and healthy tree. I know you find it hard to believe now but I am doing you a favor, Constantine. The purple cloak of an Augustus can be the heaviest burden any man is asked to bear.”
“At least I shall not have that trouble, Dominus.” Constantine managed to smile, but he was only putting up a front to keep from hurting the old man who, he knew, was genuinely concerned about his welfare. For it would do no good now to remind Diocletian that, by closing any avenue to either of the two thrones of Rome, all possibility had also been shut away of his ever marrying the girl with whose elfish charm and impudence he had fallen so violently in love in Rome.
Ceremony of abdication
The prospect of seeing his beloved cabbages soon seemed to bring new strength to Diocletian, and to his determination to abdicate. On the first day of May the ceremony of abdication was carried out. And in order that no question should arise concerning the proper release of power, Maximian was required to go through a similar procedure in his own capital of Milan upon the very same day.
Almost an horn’s march outside Nicomedia, there was a small rounded eminence that formed a natural platform. Here the largest crowd ever to gather in that region came together to witness the ceremony. Representatives of all the subject rulers of the East were there: proconsuls, praetorian prefects, vicars, or governors, of the more important cities and provinces with their retinues, and many thousands of ordinary citizens, eager to see the colorful ceremony.
The imperial throne had been erected upon a platform at the very summit of the hill, just in front of a pillar upon which stood a statue of Hercules with a small altar before it, where the priests would perform the traditional offerings of sacrifice. Galerius sat upon a lower platform, robed in the purple of a Caesar. Gathered about him were the generals who were his favorites, notably Flavius Severus and Maximin Daia.
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