Faced with military problems on many frontiers and insurrection in the provinces, in 286 he divided the empire between himself in the east and Maximian (died 310) in the west. In 293 he further divided the empire, giving Galerius (died 311) control of Illyricum and the valley of the River Danube, with Constantius Chlorus (died 306) ruling Gaul, Spain, and Britain. An enthusiast for the old Roman religion, tradition, and discipline, Diocletian insisted on the maintenance of Roman law in the provinces and launched the final harsh persecution of the Christians (303). He abdicated in 305.