Editing Diocletian (section)

===Conflict with Sarmatia and Persia===
After his acclamation, Maximian was dispatched to fight the rebel [[Bagaudae]], insurgent peasants of Gaul. Diocletian returned to the East, progressing slowly.{{sfnm|1a1=Barnes|1y=1981|1p=6|2a1=Southern|2y=2001|2p=137}} By 2 November, he had only reached Civitas Iovia (Botivo, near [[Ptuj]], [[Slovenia]]).<ref>''[[Codex Justinianus]]'' 4.48.5; ''[[Fragmenta Vaticana]]'' 297</ref>{{sfnm|1a1=Barnes|1y=1981|1p=6|2a1=Barnes|2y=1982|2p=50|3a1=Potter|3y=2005|3p=281}} In the Balkans during the autumn of 285, he encountered a tribe of [[Sarmatians]] who demanded assistance. The Sarmatians requested that Diocletian either help them recover their lost lands or grant them pasturage rights within the empire. Diocletian refused and fought a battle with them, but was unable to secure a complete victory. The nomadic pressures of the [[European Plain]] remained and could not be solved by a single war; soon the Sarmatians would have to be fought again.{{sfnm|1a1=Southern|1y=2001|1p=143|2a1=Williams|2y=1985|2p=52}}

Diocletian wintered in [[Nicomedia]].{{refn|He is placed there by a rescript dated 3 March 286.<ref>''[[Fragmenta Vaticana]]'' 275</ref>{{sfnm|1a1=Barnes|1y=1981|1p=6|2a1=Potter|2y=2005|2pp=281, 649}}|group="Note"}} There may have been a revolt in the eastern provinces at this time, as he brought settlers from [[Asia (Roman province)|Asia]] to populate emptied farmlands in [[Thrace]].{{sfn|Barnes|1981|p=6; ''[[Panegyrici Latini]]'' 8(5)21.1}} He visited [[Syria Palaestina]] the following spring,{{refn|He is attested there in a rescript dated 31 May 287.{{sfn|Cod. Justinianus|loc=4.10.3; 1.51.1; 5.17.3}}{{sfnm|1a1=Barnes|1y=1981|1p=6|2a1=Barnes|2y=1982|2pp=50–51|3a1=Potter|3y=2005|3pp=281, 649}} The Jewish ''[[Midrash]]'' suggests that Diocletian resided at Panias (present-day Banias) in the northern Golan Heights.<ref>[[Midrash Rabba]] (Genesis), Ed. Vilna, Parashas Toledos 63:8.</ref>|group="Note"}} His stay in the East saw diplomatic success in the conflict with Persia: in 287, [[Bahram II]] granted him precious gifts, declared open friendship with the Empire, and invited Diocletian to visit him.{{sfnm|1a1=Barnes|1y=1981|1p=6|2a1=Millar|2y=1993|2p=177}} Roman sources insist that the act was entirely voluntary.{{sfn|Southern|2001|p=242}}

Around the same time, perhaps in 287,{{sfnm|1a1=Barnes|1y=1982|1p=51|2a1=CAH|2p=73}} Persia relinquished claims on [[Armenia]] and recognized Roman authority over territory to the west and south of the Tigris. The western portion of Armenia was incorporated into the empire and made a province. [[Tiridates III of Armenia|Tiridates III]], the [[Arsacid dynasty of Armenia|Arsacid]] claimant to the Armenian throne and a Roman client, had been disinherited and forced to take refuge in the empire after the Persian conquest of 252–53. In 287, he returned to lay claim to the eastern half of his ancestral domain and encountered no opposition.{{sfnm|1a1=Barnes|1y=1981|1p=6|2a1=CAH|2p=73|3a1=Potter|3y=2005|3pp= 292, 651|4a1=Southern|4y=2001|4p=143|5a1=Williams|5y=1985|5p=52}} Diocletian was hailed as the "founder of eternal peace". The events might have represented a formal end to Carus's eastern campaign, which probably ended without an acknowledged peace.{{sfn|Southern|2001|pp=242, 360–361}} At the conclusion of discussions with the Persians, Diocletian re-organized the Mesopotamian frontier and fortified the city of [[Circesium]] (Buseire, Syria) on the [[Euphrates]].{{sfnm|1a1=CAH|1p=73|2a1=Millar|2y=1993|2pp=180–181|3a1=Southern|3y=2001|3p=143|4a1=Williams|4y=1985|4p=52}}