Christianity at the Crossroads

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Christianity at the Crossroads

• The Battle at the Milvian Bridge and
• Towards a New State Religion

2
The Diocletianic PersecutionandThe Edicts of
Toleration
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The Great Persecution (303-311 CE)

• Lactantius, On the Deaths of the Persecutors,
  12-14

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When that day dawnedsuddenly, while it was
hardly light, the prefect, together with the
military commanders, tribunes, and treasury
officers, came to the church in Nicomedia and
when the doors had been broken down they sought
for an image of God. Scriptures were found and
burnt spoil was given to all. Rapine, confusion,
and tumult reignedOn the following day an edict
was published providing that men of that religion
should be deprived of all honors and rank that
they should be subjected to torture, from
whatever rank and station they might come that
every legal action should be pressed against
themthat they should be accorded no freedom and
no voice.
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The Edict of Toleration underGalerius (311 CE at
Nicomedia)

• Lactantius, On the Deaths of the Persecutors, 34
  Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 8.17.6-10

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We have thought fitto extend immediate
indulgencethat they may be Christians once more
and that they may reconstitute their places of
assembly, on condition that they do nothing
contrary to the public orderthey are bound to
implore their own god for our safety, for that of
the state, and for their own.
7
The Edict of Milan ofConstantine and Licinius
(313 CE)

• Lactantius, On the Deaths of the Persecutors, 48
  Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 10.5

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Observing that freedom of worship should not be
denied, but that each one should be given the
right in accordance with his conviction and will
to adhere to the religion that suits his
preference, we had already long ago given orders
to the Christiansto maintain the faith of their
own sect and worship.
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Odd Man Out

• Disintegration of the Tetrarchic System

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The Tetrarchy, San Marco Venice
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Disintegration

• Diocletian and Maximian Diocletians
  Self-Imposed Exile (305 CE)
• Constantius and Galerius from Caesares to Augusti

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Machinations, Reshuffling, and Political Confusion

• Constantius dies in Britain (306) his son,
  Constantine, bids for position of Augustus
  Galerius compromises and gives him the name of
  Caesar
• Maxentius, son of Maximian, left out, rebels and
  sets himself up at Rome as Augustus (307)
• Four Augusti in 310 Galerius, Licinius,
  Constantine, and Maximinus Daia, with Maxentius
  still a wild-card

14
The Triumph of Constantine

• Trial of Strength against Maxentius
• Battle at Milvian Bridge outside of Rome (312)
• Constantines Vision
• The Chi-Rho Monogram

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The Arch of Constantine

• Commemorating Victory at Milvian Bridge (Rome)

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Constantine as Sole Emperor

• Uneasy Peace between Constantine (west) and
  Licinius (east) 312-314 CE
• Licinius defeated at Adrianople (Balkans,
  northwest of Byzantium)
• Constantine extends Diocletianic program
• Sub-divisions of power
• Dichotomy between civil and military service
• Unwieldy bureaucracy
• Attempt to freeze society

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Constantine and the Beginnings of the Christian
Roman Empire

• Inauguration of Constantinople (Byzantium
  Istanbul) as the New Rome (330 CE)
• A Christian Empire Ecumenical Council at Nicaea
  (325 CE)

20
The Triumph of Christianity

• Valens Persecution of the Pagan Philosophers
  (371-372 CE)

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After all these matters had been examined with a
sharp eye, the emperor, in answer to the question
put by one of the judges, under one decree
ordered the execution of all the accused and in
the presence of a vast throng, who could hardly
look upon the dreadful sight without inward
shuttering and burdening the airs with
lamentsthey were all led away and wretchedly
strangled.Ammianus Marcellinus, History,
29.1-2
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