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DIOCLETIAN &CONSTANTINE

CHRISTIANITY & THE EMPIRE

The Tumultuous Third Century

• AD 69–192 9 emperors averaged >13 yrs– 7 died naturally 2 from violence

• 192–284 2 died naturally, 55 violently• 192–235 9 emperors averaged <5 yrs• 235–284

– 29 ruled averaged 1.6 years– 19 usurpers new emperor declared every year

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Early Christianity

• Apostolic Church: Sect of Judaism– Led by surviving apostles and family

members– Maintained many of the beliefs, traditions

and scripture of the Jews• Differences split from Judaism

– AD 50: Council of Jerusalem,– Work of St Paul

Issues for the Early Church

• PERSECUTIONS• SECRECY• PROSLETYZING• ORGANIZATION into bishoprics• ORTHODOXY & HERESY

– Huge number of different beliefs. e.g.Manichaeism, Arianism

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DIOCLETIAN

• b. 244, reigned 284–305,d. 311

• TETRARCHY– Augustus of the East and

of the West– Caesar of the East and of

the West

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Diocletian’s Achievements

• Stabilized theempire– Peace with Persia

• Reformed:– administration– legal system– tax system

• Retired

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But…

AUTOCRATIC RULE:• Living god

– Elaborate ceremony– Abasement– Crown and purple

• Demanded absoluteloyalty

CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION

• AD 299: Early persecutions• AD 303: “Great Persecution”• “Edict against the

Christians”:– Destruction of houses of

worship– Destruction of texts– Banned group worship– Arrest of bishops and leaders

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Consequences

• Deaths: ~ 3000–3500– Martyrs: Marcellinus, St.

Sebastian– many more imprisoned &

tortured• Church survived

– Power of faith– Examples of martyrs

The End of Persecution

• Edict of Tolerance– AD 311– Issued by the Tetrarchy– Admitted failure of the persecution– Decriminalized Christianity

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The End of the Tetrarchy

• 305 Diocletian and co-Augustus retire– Caesars succeed them

• 306 Constantius I Chlorus dies– Three claimants to be Augustus, inc.

Constantine, son of Constantius• 309 “solution” adds a claimant, Licinius• 309–313 CIVIL WAR: 6 men, 1 Empire

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The Battle of Milvian Bridge

• Constantine vs. Maxentius• AD 312• Constantine’s “Vision”

– “In this sign, you shall conquer.”– But only accounts come from Christians

• Constantine wins⇒ Emperor of the West

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Constantine as Co-Emperor

• Licinius: Emperor of the East• Allies through marriage• Together enact Edict of Milan• AD 324

– Constantine defeats Licinius– Constantine becomes Emperor of

the entire Roman world

THIS IS A TURNING POINT FOR CHRISTIANITYAND FOR ROME

THE EDICT OF MILAN

• AD 313• Issued by Constantine and Licinius• Legalized Christianity and all other religions• Restored property to Christians• Removed references to any specific god from

all official documents– Only references to “Divinity” or “Supreme Divinity”

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A CHRISTIAN EMPEROR

• Appointed Christiansto high office

• Funded the Church• Granted freedom

from taxes to clergy• Presided over

Council of Nicaea,326

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COUNCIL OF NICAEA

• Convened by Constantine in AD 325• First ECUMENICAL COUNCIL

– ca. 300 bishops• Decided ORTHODOXY

– Nicene Creed– Decided Canons (laws) of the Church– Condemned ARIANISM as heresy

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COUNCIL OF NICAEA:FIRST TIME THAT

CHRISTIAN LEADERSFROM AROUNDCHRISTENDOM

GATHERED IN ANASSEMBLY TO DECIDE

DOCTRINALORTHODOXY ANDCHURCH CANONS

The reign ofConstantine saw

the influence of thePOLITICAL (theEmperor) on theSPIRITUAL (the

Church) for the firsttime in the

Christian Church

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NOVA ROMA

• Moved capital to Byzantium– Renamed “New Rome”– Renamed Constantinople after his death

• Secured borders• Reformed laws• Appointed competent men• Maintained East/West divisions