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Why was Constantine I passed over for a leadership role in 305?
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Constantine I
Portrait head of Constantine I, marble, Roman, c. 325ā370 ce; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.
In 305, when the emperors Diocletian and Maximian abdicated, the tetrarchy system dictated that they be succeeded by their respective deputy emperors, Galerius and Constantius I.1
Constantine I was passed over for a leadership role during this transition because the new deputy positions (caesars) were filled by Galerius Valerius Maximinus in the East and Flavius Valerius Severus in the West, rather than by Constantine. Following this, Constantine made his way from the Eastern court to join his father, Constantius, in the West.1