Editing Diocletian (section)

===Conflict with Carinus===
[[File:Montemartini - Carino 1030439.JPG|thumb|upright|Head of [[Carinus]] at the [[Centrale Montemartini]]]]
After his accession, Diocletian and [[Lucius Caesonius Ovinius Manlius Rufinianus Bassus|Lucius Caesonius Bassus]] were named as consuls and assumed the ''[[fasces]]'' in place of Carinus and Numerian.{{sfnm|1a1=Barnes|1y=1981|1p=5|2a1=CAH|2p=69|3a1=Potter|3y=2005|3p=280|4a1=Southern|4y=2001|4p=134}} Bassus was a member of a [[Roman Senate|senatorial]] family from [[Campania]], a former [[Roman consul|consul]] and proconsul of Africa, chosen by [[Probus (emperor)|Probus]] for signal distinction.{{sfn|Barnes|1981|p=5}} He was skilled in areas of government where Diocletian presumably had no experience.{{sfn|Potter|2005|p=280}} Diocletian's elevation of Bassus symbolized his rejection of Carinus' government in Rome, his refusal to accept second-tier status to any other emperor,{{sfn|Barnes|1981|p=5}} and his willingness to continue the long-standing collaboration between the empire's senatorial and military aristocracies.{{sfn|Potter|2005|p=280}} It also tied his success to that of the Senate, whose support he would need in his advance on Rome.{{sfn|Barnes|1981|p=5}}

Diocletian was not the only challenger to Carinus' rule; the usurper [[Julian of Pannonia|Julianus]], Carinus' ''corrector Venetiae'', took control of northern [[Italy]] and [[Pannonia]] after Diocletian's accession.{{sfnm|1a1=Barnes|1y=1981|1p=5|2a1=CAH|2p=69|3a1=Leadbetter|3y=2001b}}{{sfnm|1a1=Southern|1y=2001|1pp=134–135|2a1=Williams|2y=1985|2p=38|3a1=Banchich|3y=1997}} Julianus minted coins from Siscia ([[Sisak]], Croatia) declaring himself emperor and promising freedom. This aided Diocletian in his portrayal of Carinus as a cruel and oppressive tyrant.{{sfnm|1a1=Southern|1y=2001|1pp=134–135|2a1=Williams|2y=1985|2p=38}} Julianus' forces were weak, and were handily dispersed when Carinus' armies moved from Britain to northern Italy. As the leader of the united East, Diocletian was clearly the greater threat.{{sfnm|1a1=Barnes|1y=1981|1p=5|2a1=CAH|2p=69|3a1=Leadbetter|3y=2001b}} Over the winter of 284–85, Diocletian advanced west across the [[Balkans]]. In the spring, some time before the end of May,{{sfnm|1a1=CAH|1p=69|2a1=Potter|2y=2005|2p=280}} his armies met Carinus' across the river Margus ([[Great Morava]]) in [[Moesia]]. In modern accounts, the site has been located between the Mons Aureus (Seone, west of [[Smederevo]]) and [[Viminacium]],{{sfn|Barnes|1981|p=5}} near modern [[Belgrade]], Serbia.{{sfnm|1a1=Barnes|1y=1981|1p=5|2a1=Odahl|2y=2004|2p=40|3a1=Southern|3y=2001|3p=135}}

Despite having a stronger, more powerful army, Carinus held the weaker position. His rule was unpopular, and it was later alleged that he had mistreated the Senate and seduced his officers' wives.{{sfnm|1a1=Barnes|1y=1981|1p=5|2a1=Williams|2y=1985|2pp=37–38}} It is possible that [[Constantius Chlorus|Flavius Constantius]], the governor of Dalmatia and Diocletian's associate in the household guard, had already defected to Diocletian in the early spring.{{sfnm|1a1=Potter|1y=2005|1p=280|2a1=Williams|2y=1985|2p=37}} When the [[Battle of the Margus]] began, Carinus' prefect [[Titus Claudius Aurelius Aristobulus|Aristobulus]] also defected.{{sfn|Potter|2005|p=280}} In the course of the battle, Carinus was killed by his own men. Following Diocletian's victory, both the western and the eastern armies acclaimed him as Emperor.{{sfnm|1a1=Barnes|1y=1981|1p=5|2a1=CAH|2p=69|3a1=Odahl|3y=2004|3p=40|4a1=Williams|4y=1985|4p=38}} Diocletian exacted an oath of allegiance from the defeated army and departed for Italy.{{sfnm|1a1=Southern|1y=2001|1p=135|2a1=Williams|2y=1985|2p=38}}