Editing Numerian (section)

=== After Numerian's death ===
Aper officially broke the news of Numerian's death in [[Nicomedia]] ([[İzmit]]) in November 284,<ref name = "P280"/> and the discovery, which the prefect attempted to conceal, as due to the forwardness of the soldiery, who forced open the Imperial tent to investigate for themselves the situation of their invisible monarch.<ref name="Gibbon, p. 301"/> Numerian's generals and tribunes called a council for the succession, which met at [[Chalcedon]] across the [[Bosphorus]], where they chose as emperor [[Diocletian]], commander of the cavalry arm of the imperial bodyguard,<ref>Barnes, ''Constantine and Eusebius'', p. 4; Barnes, ''New Empire'', p. 31; Bowman, "Diocletian", p. 68; Mathisen, "Diocletian"; Williams, ''Diocletian'', p. 33, 35-36.</ref> despite Aper's attempts to garner support.<ref name="P280">Potter, ''The Roman Empire at Bay'', p. 280.</ref> The army of the east unanimously saluted their new Augustus. Diocletian accepted the purple imperial vestments and raised his sword to the light of the sun, swearing an oath denying responsibility for Numerian's death. He asserted that Aper had killed Numerian and concealed the deed. In full view of the army, Diocletian then turned and killed Aper, who had been hauled bound before the assembly.<ref>Barnes, ''Constantine and Eusebius'', pp. 4–5; Leadbetter, "Numerian"; Odahl, ''Constantine and the Christian Empire'', pp. 39–40; Williams, ''Diocletian'', p. 37.</ref>