Page 10
January 20, 2009
With extra money flowing in, Diocletian was able to work on making the army more appealing to the common man. Rich man: "Horrifying!"
Poor men: "Sounds good to us!" The common men.
Advisor 1: "You can't give just anyone plots of land!" Advisor 2: "The horror!" Advisor 3: "Common soldiers can't be allowed to become prefects!" Advisor 4: "The lower classes will take control!" Diocletian: "Silence."
Diocletian: "I shall also declare myself to be the son of Jupiter."
Advisors: "......"
Diocletian: "Killing me would be heretical."
Advisor: "Very well, sir. But are you aware that it will difficult to you to maintain your people's respect? Years of killing one emperor after another can do that."
Diocletian: "I see... Well, I'll try to display my powers as ostentatiously as possible. Throw parties, have public appearances, ceremonies, etcetera." Advisor 1: "As ostentatiously as possible?" Advisor 2: "He's gone crazy."
Perhaps you may remember another ruler who had made a similar claim. Rest assured that Diocletian will not suffer a similar fate. This could be because claiming to be the son of a god was less impertinent than the reincarnation claim. Or maybe Diocletian just wasn't as much of a jerk.
