In a.d. 286 Diocletian sought to reverse the decline by splitting the administration of the empire in two he would govern the east, based in Nicodemia, while his friend Maximian ruled the west from Milan and later to split it further into four parts.
Diocletian chose Maximian as his co-ruler because of Maximian's record of public service.
mnli hypothesis: Diocletian chose Maximian as his co-ruler because of Maximian's record of public service. premise: In a.d. 286 Diocletian sought to reverse the decline by splitting the administration of the empire in two he would govern the east, based in Nicodemia, while his friend Maximian ruled the west from Milan and later to split it further into four parts.