# Diocletian — Plays character guide

> Diocletian in Plays by Roswitha of Gandersheim.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Diocletian, the Emperor Diocletian

**First appearance:** 0035-dulcitius

## Who they are

The emperor whose edict against Christian virgins sets the machinery of martyrdom in motion and tests whether power can bend conviction.

## In the story

### [Characters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/characters)

Emperor

### [Dulcitius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/dulcitius)

Emperor; interrogates the sisters and orders their imprisonment and examination by Dulcitius.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/scene-i)

The emperor who interrogates the sisters and orders their imprisonment.

### [Scene VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/scene-viii)

The Emperor to whom the soldiers plan to report the events.

### [Scene IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/scene-ix)

The Emperor Diocletian reacts with fury to the insult against Dulcitius and orders retribution.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/characters/diocletian
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/characters