Diocletianic Persecution

At a glance

Dates: 303-02-24 – 313.

Place: Ancient Rome.

Type: persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire and massacre.

Deaths reported: 3000.

What came before

Background Prior persecutions Further information: Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire From its first appearance to its legalization under Constantine , Christianity was an illegal religion in the eyes of the Roman state. [ 1 ] For the first two centuries of its existence, Christianity and its practitioners were unpopular with the people at large. [ 2 ] Christians were always suspect, [ 1 ] members of a "secret society" who communicated with a private code [ 3 ]

Who was involved

Involved: Diocletian.

What happened

Legacy The Diocletianic persecution was ultimately unsuccessful. As Robin Lane Fox has put it, it was simply "too little and too late". [ 1 ] Christians were never purged systematically in any part of the empire, and Christian evasion continually undermined the edicts' enforcement. [ 2 ] Some bribed their way to freedom. [ 3 ] The Christian Copres escaped on a technicality: to avoid sacrificing in court, he gave his brother power of attorney and had him do it instead. [ 4 ]

The Diocletianic or Great Persecution was the last and most severe persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. In 303, the emperors Diocletian, Maximian, Galerius, and Constantius issued a series of edicts 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.