Beate Dignas & Engelbert Winter - Kaveh Farrokh

6 Galerius defeats Narsē in 298 85
Fig. 9 The Capture of Valerian. Hans Holbein, Basle, 1521
(Waetzhold, W. (1939) Hans Holbein der Jüngere, Werk und Welt: fig. 68)
(Basle, Öffentliche Kunstsammlung; program of murals for the Great Council Chamber
of Basle Town Hall; pen-and-ink drawing, 1521)
‘Caesar’. Whenever he read this title in letters addressed to him, a grim expression
showed up on his face and he shouted in a terrible voice, ‘For how long Caesar?’ 49
Lactantius 50 has no doubts about the political goals of the Sasanian
king. Through military successes Narsē (293–302) wanted to acquire new
49 The fourth-century Christian author tries to portray Galerius and Diocletian, who persecuted
the Christians, in a negative way. The reproach against Diocletian of being a coward contradicts
Diocletian’s in fact very assertive course of action at the Eastern frontier. Lactantius also hints at
rivalries and tensions between Diocletian and his Caesar, which indeed existed during the later part
of Diocletian’s reign; cf. Kolb 1987a: 159–76.
50 Christensen 1980; Creed 1984.