AHC/WI: The tetrarchy survives?

After Diocletian retired, the tetrarchy basically fell apart. He came our of retirement to stabilize it again but it just did not work and fell apart again. How can we make the tetrarchy survive at least another 100 years? What would be the effects of that?

Could Maximian dying before Diocletian retires, or right after they both retire help? He never really wanted to retire and caused problems after his retirement.
 
The tetrarchy was a terrible, terrible system that only worked when you had one guy (e.g. Diocletian) utterly dominating everyone else. Otherwise it was just screaming for confrontation between the tetrarchs, who all had armies, money, power and prestige at their disposal as well as a reasonable claim to being top-dog.
 
The tetrarchy was a terrible, terrible system that only worked when you had one guy (e.g. Diocletian) utterly dominating everyone else. Otherwise it was just screaming for confrontation between the tetrarchs, who all had armies, money, power and prestige at their disposal as well as a reasonable claim to being top-dog.

Is there any way it can be made better able to last a little longer?
 
Is there any way it can be made better able to last a little longer?

I think the point Magnum is getting at is WHY would you want it to last longer? In truth it was a horrible system and its a miracle it lasted as long as it did. I mean yes on paper its a fairly good idea, having an Emperor in each section of the Empire to be on hand to respond to threats, but it doesn't really work that way. You are essentially dividing the empire into four mini empires and eventually one of those Emperors is going to want the whole pie, so to speak. If anything it ENCOURAGES infighting. The entire system fell apart after Diocletian's retirement, so that says something about the system. The ONLY and I mean ONLY way it could survive for any length of time after Diocletian would be if there's one or two strong Emperors and the other three or two are weak and unambitious. The problem is any successful general is going to be ambitious so the whole thing is a quagmire. A successful general is going to want the whole thing eventually and a non-successful general will probably be killed by either the other emperors or his own soldiers. The system just couldn't last.
 
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