Degree Date

2008

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

History of Art

Abstract

The system of the tetrarchy, literally “the rule of four emperors”, was initiated by Emperor Diocletian in 294 A.D. and lasted till 305 A.D. In this period, Diocletian and Galerius ruled the east of the empire, and Maximian and Constantius Chlorus the west. The third century was a time when the peripatetic nature of the court was emphasized due to wars at all fronts. As a result, the tetrarchs chose to reside in various cities in the regions under their control instead of in Rome, and thus Rome’s capitalness was challenged.

Even though there is a large amount of modern scholarship on the tetrarchic period, most of it refrains from offering a detailed investigation of the cities in which the tetrarchs chose to reside. How these cities functioned, and what their symbolic significance was, are two questions usually answered only superficially. As a result, modern scholars often do not know what to call these cities, or do not offer any detailed explanation of the terms they use for them.

This thesis investigates eight of the most commonly referred tetrarchic cities, Nicomedia, Sirmium, Antioch, Thessaloniki, Serdica, Milan, Aquileia, and Trier, in order to answer mainly the question of what impact the tetrarchy had on them. The first chapter explains why these cities were chosen as the principal residences among the numerous cities in which the tetrarchic emperors and their successors stayed. The second chapter is an overview of the tetrarchic system in order to clarify the function of these cities in this system. The third chapter considers the urban development of these cities under the tetrarchy in an attempt to understand how the tetrarchic functions were accommodated in them architecturally.

As a conclusion, the fourth chapter addresses the question of whether or not these cities can be termed capital cities. Rome is investigated in order to understand what aspects made it the caput mundi. The function and architecture of the tetrarchic cities are compared to Rome in order assess their capitalness, and to find a right name for them. Finally Constantinople is considered, since the tetrarchic cities prepared the way for its foundation as the new Rome.

Comments

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