Who was the emperor who began the last great persecution of Christians in the empire?

The emperor who began the last great persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire was Diocletian. This persecution, known as the Diocletianic Persecution, started in 303 AD and aimed to suppress Christianity through the destruction of churches and scriptures, as well as the imprisonment and execution of Christians. Diocletian's efforts were part of his broader strategy to restore traditional Roman religious practices and strengthen the empire's unity. The persecution continued until the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, which granted religious tolerance to Christians.