Galerius was made Caesar in 293 at the same time as Canstantius I. He was sent to the Danube to keep the Goths from invading the Empire. In 296 he was ordered to Persia by Diocletian, but was defeated. In 298, however, he won a great victory and drove the Persians out of Armenia. He persuaded Diocletian to begin the last great Christian persecution. Christian writers likened him to a fierce bear.