Roman Emperor Diocletian was born in 242
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He was born December 22, 242 at Salona and died December 3, 311 at age 68.
He joined the Roman army and climbed through the ranks becoming emperor elected by the soldiers in 284 CE after the deaths of Carus and his son Numerian during a Persian campaign.
He implemented a management efficiency mechanism called the Tetrarchy in 293 CE. It divided rule among four co-emperors, with Diocletian as the senior Augustus alongside Maximian, Galerius, and Constantius.
Diocletian implemented extensive reforms in an effort to promote stability in the empire. He reorganized provinces, expanded the bureaucracy, and reformed the tax system.
In 301 CE, he introduced the Edict on Maximum Prices to combat inflation but it's effectiveness was quite limited.
In 303 CE, Diocletian began the Great Persecution of Christians. He is often remembered as a cruel ruler for his severe handling of Christians during this period.
After a successful administration Diocletian voluntarily abdicated in 305 CE. He was the first Roman emperor to do so. He retired to his palace in Split and spent his retirement doing gardening. Diocletian declined requests to return to power after declaring retirement and died in 311 CE.