The Emperor Diocletian realising that the Roman Empire had become so huge that it was getting more and more difficult to control decided to treat it as a tetrarchy; ie to be ruled by four emperors – himself, Maximian, Galerius and Constantius Chlorus. Each emperor maintained his own court and built magnificent palaces in their own capitals – Nicomedia, Thessalonica, Milan and Trier, traces of which can be seen to this day.
In the 18th century Robert Adam, the influential architect, undertook one of the then fashionable Grand Tours and came across Diocletian’s palace in Split (in today’s Croatia). Adam was enormously impressed by this incredible palace and on his return to England wrote a book about it. The palace was also to play a significant role in his own building designs.
Architectural historian Alicia Salter’s fascinating book Four Emperors and an Architect takes the reader on a voyage of discovery through not only Diocletian’s palaces but also of those of his other three tetrarchs. She deftly combines biographical and historical details along with those of architecture and travel in an eminently readable style coupled with many excellent illustrations.
Alongside details of the tetrarchs’ lives and palaces are chapters on Adam’s work and life in the UK.
You do not have to be an architect or a historian to appreciate this book. It is perfect for anybody who enjoys discovering more about architecture, history and indeed travel. A fascinating and informative book.
Four Emperors and an Architect. Alicia Salter. Lexicon Publishing. ISBN: 978-0-9575719-0-7. £20.
Buy now: Four Emperors and an Architect: How Robert Adam Rediscovered the Tetrarchy (affiliate link)
