Society and Civil War in Africa During the Tetrarchy: The Rebellion of Lucius Domitius Alexander (308–310 CE)
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Laurent J. Cases
Abstract
In the year 308 CE, the African army raised to the purple the agens vices praefectorum praetorio Lucius Domitius Alexander. This rather unique case of a vicarius becoming emperor is deserving of investigation. Scholarly interest on the matter has traditionally focused on the broader political significance, treating Alexander as a traditional usurper. This paper argues that, contrary to traditional studies, the regime of Alexander focused on very local, African tropes. The uniqueness of the advertisement suggests that this African usurpation was the product of discontent internal to Africa; in other words, it is a departure from the usurpations of the third century. The achievements of Diocletian, who supposedly stabilized the Empire, ended when he withdrew, and the rebellion of 308–310 demonstrates that there remained unaddressed tensions between the provinces and the remaining tetrarchs.
Acknowledgment
An early version of this paper was presented at the International Late Antiquity Network conference, held in New York City in 2014. I am grateful to all the participants who provided a very stimulating discussion. I am indebted to Michael Kulikowski, who provided tireless guidance and invaluable commentaries. I would like to extend my thanks to the Classical Numismatic Groups (https://cngcoins.com/) (Fig. 1, Fig. 3) and the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien (Fig. 2, Fig. 4) for providing images of some of the coins discussed in the paper. Lastly, the reviewers of the Journal of Ancient History provided many helpful comments and important corrections. Remaining errors are my own.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Frontmatter
- Articles
- Becoming Empire: Neo-Assyrian palaces and the creation of courtly culture
- “And in the fourth year Egypt rebelled ...” The Chronology of and Sources for Egypt’s Second Revolt (ca. 487–484 BC)
- A Divine Couple: Demeter Malophoros and Zeus Meilichios in Selinus
- The Power-Transition Crisis of the 160s–130s BCE and the Formation of the Parthian Empire
- Interpreting Funerary Inscriptions from the City of Rome
- “The most sacred society (thiasos) of the Pythagoreans:” philosophers forming associations
- Society and Civil War in Africa During the Tetrarchy: The Rebellion of Lucius Domitius Alexander (308–310 CE)
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Frontmatter
- Articles
- Becoming Empire: Neo-Assyrian palaces and the creation of courtly culture
- “And in the fourth year Egypt rebelled ...” The Chronology of and Sources for Egypt’s Second Revolt (ca. 487–484 BC)
- A Divine Couple: Demeter Malophoros and Zeus Meilichios in Selinus
- The Power-Transition Crisis of the 160s–130s BCE and the Formation of the Parthian Empire
- Interpreting Funerary Inscriptions from the City of Rome
- “The most sacred society (thiasos) of the Pythagoreans:” philosophers forming associations
- Society and Civil War in Africa During the Tetrarchy: The Rebellion of Lucius Domitius Alexander (308–310 CE)
