Diocletianic Persecution

[[File:Flagellation St Erasmus Crypta Balbi.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|right|[[St. Erasmus]] flogged in the presence of Emperor Diocletian. Byzantine artwork, from the crypt of the church of [[Santa Maria in Via Lata]] in Rome.]]

[[File:Flagellation St Erasmus Crypta Balbi.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|right|[[St. Erasmus]] flogged in the presence of Emperor Diocletian. Byzantine artwork, from the crypt of the church of [[Santa Maria in Via Lata]] in Rome.]]

The '''Diocletianic''' or '''Great Persecution''' was the last and most severe [[persecution of Christians]] in the [[Roman Empire]].Gaddis, 29. In 303, the [[Roman emperor|emperor]]s [[Diocletian]], [[Maximian]], [[Galerius]], and [[Constantius Chlorus|Constantius]] issued a series of [[edict]]s rescinding Christians' legal rights and demanding that they comply with traditional religious practices. Later edicts targeted the [[clergy]] and demanded universal sacrifice, ordering all inhabitants to sacrifice to the Roman gods (Jews were exempt). The persecution varied in intensity across the empire—weakest in [[Gaul]] and [[Roman Britain|Britain]], where only the first edict was applied, and strongest in the Eastern provinces. Persecutory laws were nullified by different emperors (Galerius with the [[Edict of Serdica]] in 311) at different times. Traditionally, the [[Constantine the Great and Christianity|reign of Constantine the Great]](306–337 AD) and [[Licinius]]' [[Edict of Milan]] in 313 have marked the end of the persecution.

The '''Diocletianic''' or '''Great Persecution''' was the last and most severe [[persecution of Christians]] in the [[Roman Empire]].Gaddis, 29. In 303, the [[Roman emperor|emperor]]s [[Diocletian]], [[Maximian]], [[Galerius]], and [[Constantius Chlorus|Constantius]] issued a series of [[edict]]s rescinding Christians' legal rights and demanding that they comply with traditional religious practices. Later edicts targeted the [[clergy]] and demanded universal sacrifice, ordering all inhabitants to sacrifice to the Roman gods (Jews were exempt). The persecution varied in intensity across the empire—weakest in [[Gaul]] and [[Roman Britain|Britain]], where only the first edict was applied, and strongest in the Eastern provinces. Persecutory laws were nullified by different emperors (Galerius with the [[Edict of Serdica]] in 311) at different times. Traditionally, the [[Constantine the Great and Christianity|reign of Constantine the Great]] (306–337 AD) and [[Licinius]]' [[Edict of Milan]] in 313 have marked the end of the persecution.

Christians had been subject to intermittent local discrimination in the empire. [[Roman emperor|Roman Emperors]] before Diocletian were reluctant to [[legislate]] against [[Christianity]]. In the 250s, under the reigns of [[Decius]] and [[Valerian (emperor)|Valerian]], Roman subjects including Christians were compelled to sacrifice to [[List of Roman deities|Roman gods]] or face imprisonment and execution, but there is no evidence that these edicts were specifically intended to attack Christianity.{{cite book|title=The Early Christian World, Vol.2|editor=Philip F. Esler|publisher=[[Routledge]]|year=2000|pages= 827–829|isbn=978-0-415-16497-9}} After [[Gallienus]]'s accession in 260, these laws went into abeyance. Diocletian's assumption of power in 284 did not mark an immediate reversal of imperial inattention to Christianity, but it did herald a gradual shift in official attitudes toward religious minorities. In the first fifteen years of his rule, Diocletian purged the army of Christians, condemned [[Manichaeism|Manicheans]] to death, and surrounded himself with public opponents of Christianity. Diocletian's preference for activist government, combined with his self-image as a restorer of past Roman glory, foreboded the most pervasive persecution in Roman history. In the winter of 302, Galerius urged Diocletian to begin a general persecution of the Christians. Diocletian was wary and asked the [[oracle]] at [[Didyma]] for guidance. The oracle's reply was read as an endorsement of Galerius's position, and a general persecution was called on 23 February 303.

Christians had been subject to intermittent local discrimination in the empire. [[Roman emperor|Roman Emperors]] before Diocletian were reluctant to [[legislate]] against [[Christianity]]. In the 250s, under the reigns of [[Decius]] and [[Valerian (emperor)|Valerian]], Roman subjects including Christians were compelled to sacrifice to [[List of Roman deities|Roman gods]] or face imprisonment and execution, but there is no evidence that these edicts were specifically intended to attack Christianity.{{cite book|title=The Early Christian World, Vol.2|editor=Philip F. Esler|publisher=[[Routledge]]|year=2000|pages= 827–829|isbn=978-0-415-16497-9}} After [[Gallienus]]'s accession in 260, these laws went into abeyance. Diocletian's assumption of power in 284 did not mark an immediate reversal of imperial inattention to Christianity, but it did herald a gradual shift in official attitudes toward religious minorities. In the first fifteen years of his rule, Diocletian purged the army of Christians, condemned [[Manichaeism|Manicheans]] to death, and surrounded himself with public opponents of Christianity. Diocletian's preference for activist government, combined with his self-image as a restorer of past Roman glory, foreboded the most pervasive persecution in Roman history. In the winter of 302, Galerius urged Diocletian to begin a general persecution of the Christians. Diocletian was wary and asked the [[oracle]] at [[Didyma]] for guidance. The oracle's reply was read as an endorsement of Galerius's position, and a general persecution was called on 23 February 303.