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Some sources claim that the father of the Roman Emperor Diocletian was a former slave of a Senator named Anullinus, who was freed by his master. The same of this Senator shows that he was from Roman Africa.
The future Emperor Diocletian was born around 242, in Dalmatia (modern-day Croatia). All historical sources agree that he was from a modest background. According to the Roman historian Eutropius, while he is usually considered as the son of a scribe, some also claim that his father was a freed slave of a Senator called Anullinus. The two descriptions are not necessarily incompatible: some slaves served as scribes for their masters.
Some historians believe that Diocletian was called “son of a freedman” only by his enemies, to discredit him. However, the fact that a serious historian like Eutropius reports this, and even mentions the name of his former master, gives credit to the information.
The name Anullinus shows that this Senator was from an African family: several inscriptions dedicated to figures of this name have been found in various cities of Roman Africa. The most well-known member of this family was Publius Cornelius Anullinus, an ally of Septimius Severus, who commanded his troops against his rival Pescennius Niger. Publius Cornelius Anullinus was born in Granada, Southern Spain, close to North Africa. His African origins explain his links with the first North African Emperor.
Anothr member of the Anullinus family, Gaius Annius Anullinus, served as proconsul of Africa, and then as Prefect of Rome, during the reign of Diocletian. He played an important role in Diocletian’s persecution campaign against the Christians: several African Christian martyrs were executed by him. He might have been the son of the Senator who freed Diocletian’s father.
