05/07/2026
Diocletian – the emperor who shaped Split and Dalmatia
On the Adriatic coast, in the heart of modern-day Split, lies the story of one of the most important Roman emperors – Diocletian.
Diocletian was a Roman emperor who ruled from AD 284 to 305 and is considered one of the most significant rulers of the Roman Empire. During a period of political crisis, he introduced major reforms that stabilized the empire and fundamentally changed its system of governance.
He is best known for:
introducing the system of tetrarchy, in which the empire was ruled by four leaders
reorganizing the army, taxation system, and state administration
carrying out the last major persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire
being one of the few emperors to voluntarily abdicate in AD 305
After retiring from political life, he withdrew to his palace in present-day Split – Diocletian's Palace. There he spent the last years of his life, far from politics, devoted to gardening.
According to a famous legend, when he was later urged to return to the throne, he replied that if people could see the cabbage he was growing, they would understand why he refused.
Diocletian was born around AD 244, likely near Salona (modern-day Solin), and his palace in Split is today one of the best-preserved examples of late Roman architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
His legacy still lives on through Split – a city that grew out of his palace and became one of the most important cultural and historical symbols of the Mediterranean.