Western Roman Empire

The Western Roman Empire is the name given to the western half of the Roman Empire after its division by Diocletian in 286 AD. It would exist intermittently in several periods between the 3rd Century and the 5th Century, after Diocletian's Tetrarchy and the reunifications associated with Constantine the Great and his later successors, and is generally held to have ended with the abdication of Romulus Augustus on September 4, 476, under pressure of the Germanic chieftain Odoacer. Its counterpart, the Eastern Roman Empire, or Byzantine Empire, survived for another 1,000 years.

Constantine the Great

The system of the Tetrarchy quickly ran aground as the Western Empire's Constantius died unexpectedly in 306, and his son Constantine the Great was proclaimed Emperor by the army in Britain. A crisis followed as several attempted to claim rule in the west. In 308, the Augustus of the East, Galerius arranged a conference at Carnuntum which revived the Tetrarchy by dividing the power between Constantine and a newcomer named Licinius. Constantine was more interested in reconsolidating the Empire, Through a series of battles between the East and West, Licinius and Constantine had rejoined the Empire by 314, but they now competed for sole control of the reunified state. Constantine finally emerged victorious in 324 after the surrender and assassination of Licinius following the battles of Adrianople and Chrysopolis.

Related Topics:
Constantine the Great - Galerius - Carnuntum - Licinius

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