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Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletian

(236/7 - 316) [R. W. Mathisen www.roman-emperors.org]

Roman emperor (284 - 305), succeeding Carus's son, Numerian, in the east; controlled the whole empire after the death of Carinus, Carus's younger son, in 285. Introduced tetrarchy; enforced imperial cult; abdicated.

Declined an offer to take the throne in 308; died at Split.

Diocletian came to the throne with the support of the troops. 1570, p. 108; 1576, p. 77; 1583, p. 76.

Having accused Aper of killing Numerian, Diocletian killed him with his sword in front of the troops. 1570, p. 109; 1576, p. 78; 1583, p. 77.

Diocletian commanded that he be worshipped as a god. 1570, p. 109; 1576, p. 78; 1583, p. 77.

Diocletian introduced the most severe persecution of the Christians. The persecution began with the destruction of churches and books of scripture. 1570, pp. 39, 109-111; 1576, pp. 31, 78-79; 1583, pp. 31, 77-79.

He went on use threats and imprisonment, and eventually he devised a great variety of tortures and methods of execution. 1570, pp. 112-14; 1576, pp. 80-81; 1583, pp. 79-81.

Diocletian abdicated and, having heard of the edict of Constantine and Licinius granting freedom of worship to Christians, died. 1570, p. 121; 1576, p. 87; 1583, p. 86.

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Maximinus Daia

(c. 270 - 313) [M. Di Maio www.roman-emperors.org]

Served as Galerius's caesar in the East (305 - 11)

Roman emperor of the East (311 - 13)

Maximinus fought off a revolt by Maxentius. He renewed persecution of the Christians after the publication of the toleration edict of Galerius. 1570, pp. 114, 117; 1576, pp. 82, 84; 1583, pp. 81, 83.

Maximinus issued contradictory edicts urging persecution and toleration of Christians. He eventually, after defeat by Licinius, turned against the priests of the Roman gods. 1570, pp. 121-22; 1576, pp. 87-88; 1583, pp. 86-87.

Maximinus died of an abdominal complaint. 1570, pp. 39, 122; 1576, pp. 31, 88; 1583, pp. 31, 88.

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Sabinus

High official under Constantius and Maximinus Daia

Sabinus ensured that the decree ending the persecution of Christians was published. 1570, p. 115; 1576, p. 83; 1583, p. 82.

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Izmit (Nicomedia)

[Philomilium]

Anatolia, Turkey

Coordinates: 40° 46' 0" N, 29° 55' 0" E

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Solin (Salonae)

[Salona]

Dalmatia, Croatia

Coordinates: 43° 32' 6" N, 16° 29' 6" E

token of fortitude, I haue rescued and deliuered our Citie from the yoke of the tyrant. Euseb lib. 9. cap 9.MarginaliaEuseb. Lib. 9. Cap. 9.

By this heauenly victorie of Constantinus, and by the death of Maxentius no little tranquillity came to the church of Christ. Although notwithst?ding in the East churches the storme of this tenth persecuti? was not yet altogether quieted, but that some taile thereof in those partes remained for the space of ij. or iij. yeare. But of this we minde to speake (Christ willing) hereafter. In the meane season, to returne againe to the West partes here in Europe, where Constantinus then had most to doe, great tranquillitie followed, and long c? tinued in the church without any open slaughter, for a thousande yeares togetherMarginaliaNote well these thousand yeares and then read the xx. chap. of the Apoc. Satanas was bound vp for a thousand yeares. &c. (to the time of Iohn Wickliffe and Waldenses, as is before touched) by the meanes of the godly beginning of good Constantinus, who with his fellow Licinius, being now stablished in their dominion, eftsones set foorth their generall proclamation or edict, not c?straining therein any man to any religion, but geuing liberty to all men, both for the Christians to persist in their profession without any danger, and for other men freely to adioyne wyth them, whosoeuer pleased. Which thing was very wel taken, and highly allowed of the Romaines, and al wise men. The copie of the Edict or constitution here ensueth.

MarginaliaThe copy of the imperiall constitution of Constantinus and Licinius. Euseb. Lib. 10. cap. 5.NOt long agone we weying with our selues, that the libertie and freedome of religion ought not in any case to be prohibited, but that free leaue ought to be geuen to euery man to doe therein according to his wil and minde, we haue giuen commandement to all men to qualifie matters of religion as they themselues thought good, and that also the Christians shoulde keepe the opinions and and faith of their religion. But because that many & sundry opinions by the same our first licence spring and increase through such libertie graunted, we thought good manifestly to adde thereunto, and make plaine such things, wherby perchance some of them in time to come, may from such their obseruaunce be let or hindered. When therfore by prosperous successe, I Constantinus Augustus, and I Licinius Augustus came to Mediolanum, and there sate in councell vpon such thinges as serued for the vtilitie and profit of the common weale, these things amongst others, we thought woulde be beneficiall to all men, yea and before all other things we purposed to establish those things, wherin the true reuerence and worship of God is comprehended, that is, to geue vnto the Christians free choise to followe what religion they thinke good, and whereby the same sinceritie and celestiall grace which is in euery place receaued, may also be embraced and accepted of all our louing subiects. According therefore vnto this our pleasure vpon good aduisement and sounde iudgement, we haue decreed, that no man so hardy, be denied to chuse and followe the Christian obseruance or religion: But that this libertie be geuen to euery man, that he may apply his minde to what religion he thinketh meete himselfe, whereby God may performe vpon vs all his accustomed care and goodnesse. To the intent therefore you might knowe that this is our pleasure, wee thought it necessary this to wryte vnto you, whereby all such errours and opinions being remooued, which in our former letters (being sent vnto you in the behalfe of the Christians) are conteyned, and which seeme very vndiscreete and contrary to our clem?cy, may be made frustrate & adnihilate. Now therfore firmly and freely we will and commaunde, that euery man haue a free libertie to obserue the Christian religion, and that without any griefe or molestation hee may be suffered to doe the same. These things haue we thought good to signifie vnto you by as plaine wordes as we may, that we haue geuen to the Christians free and absolute power to keepe and vse their religion. And for as much as this libertie is absolutely geuen of vs vnto them, to vse and exercise their former obseruance, if any be so disposed, it is manifest that the same helpeth much to establishe the publike tranquillitle of our time, euery man to haue licence and libertie to vse and chuse what kinde of worshipping he list himself. And this is done of vs onely for the intent, that we woulde haue no man to be enforced to one religion more then an other. And this thing also amongst others we haue prouided for the Christians, that they may haue againe the possessi? of such places, in which heretofore they haue bene accustomed to make their assemblies, so that if any haue bought or purchased the same either of vs, or of any other: the same places without either mony or other recompence, forthwith and without delay we will to be restored againe vnto the sayd Christians. And if any man haue obtained the same by gift from vs, and shall require any recompence to be made to them in that behalf: Then let the Christians repaire vnto the President (being the iudge appoynted for that place) that consideration may be had of those m? by our benignitie: al which thingswe will and commaunde, that you see to be geuen and restored freely, and with diligence vnto the societie of the Christians, all delay set apart. And because the Christians themselues are vnderstoode to haue had not onely those places wherein they were accustomed to resort together, but certaine other peculiar places also, not being priuate to any one man, but belonging to the right of their congregation and societie: you shall see also al those to be restored vnto the Christians, that is to say, to euery fellowship and company of them, according to the decree, whereof we haue made mention, all delay set apart. Prouided that the order we haue taken in the meane time be obserued, that if any (taking no recompence) shall restore the same lands and possessions, they shall not mistrust but be sure to be saued harmelesse by vs. In all these things it shall be your part to employ your diligence in the behalfe of the foresayde companie of the Christians, whereby this our commaundement may speedely be accomplished, and also in this case by our clemencie the common and publike peace may be preserued. For vndoubtedly by this meanes, as before we haue sayde, the good will and fauour of God towardes vs (whereof in many cases we haue had good experience) shall alwayes continue with vs. And to the intent that this our constitution may be notified to all men, it shall be requisite that the copie of these our letters be set vp in all places, that men may reade and knowe the same, least any should be ignorant thereof.

By these hystories I doubt not (good reader) but thou doest right well c?sider and behold with thy selfe the marueilous working of God his mighty power:MarginaliaThe consideration of Gods work in defencing hys Christians. to see so many Emperours at one time conspired and confederate together against the Lord and his Christ annoynted, whose names before we haue recited, as Dioclesian, Maximinian, Galerius, Maxentius, Maximinus, Seuerus, Licinius, who hauing the subiection of the whole world vnder their dominion, did bende and extende their whole might and deuises, to extirpate the name of Christ, and of all Christians. Wherein if the power of man could haue preuailed, what coulde they not doe? or what coulde they doe more then they did? If policie or deuises could haue serued, what policie was there lacking? If torments or paines of death could haue helped, what cruelty of torment by man could be inuented, which was not attempted? If lawes, edictes, proclamations, wrytten not onely in tables, but ingrauen in brasse, could haue stande, all this was practised against the weake Christians. And yet notwithstandng, to see howe no counsaile can stand against the Lorde, note heere how all thse be gone, and yet Christ and his Church doth stande.MarginaliaThe kinges of the earth haue risen, and Princes together agaynst the Lord, and agaynst hys Christ. Psal. 2. No counsell standeth agaynst God. Fyrst, of the taking away of Maximinian you haue heard, also of the death of Seuerus, of the drowning moreouer of Maxentius, inough hath bene sayde. What a terrible plague was vpon Galerius, consuming his priuie members with Lice, hath bene also described.MarginaliaThe destruction of the cruell Emperours. Howe Dioclesian the quondam being at Salona, hearing of the proceedings of Constantinus, and this his Edict, either for sorrow died,MarginaliaDioclesian dyeth for sorrow. or as some say did poyson himselfe. Onely Maximinus now in the East partes remained aliue, who bare a deadly hatred against the Christians, and no lesse expressed the same wyth mortall persecution, to whome Constantine and Licinius caused this constitution of theirs to be deliuered: at the sight whereof, although hee was somewhat appaled, and defeated of his purpose: yet forasmuch as he saw himselfe too weake to resist the authoritie of Constantinus and Licinius the superiour Princes: Hee dissembled his counterfet pietie, as though hee himselfe had tendered the quiet of the Christians: directing downe a certaine decree in the behalfe of the Christians,MarginaliaTe effect of the decree which Maximinus made against hys wil or surrecountermaund for the feare of C. and L. in the behalfe of the Christians. wherein hee pretendeth to wryte to Sabinus aformentioned, first repeating vnto him the former decree of Dioclesian and Maximinian in few wordes, with the commandement therein contained touching the persecution against the Christians. After that hee reciteth the Decree which he himselfe made against them, when he came first to the imperiall dignitie in the East part ioyned wyth Constantius. Then the Countermaund of an other Decree of his agayne, for the rescuing of the Christians, wyth such fayned and pretensed causes, as is in the same to be seene. After that declareth howe he comming to Nicomedia, at the sute and supplication of the Citizens (which he also fained, as may appeare before) he applying to their sute, reuoked that his former Edict, and graunted them that no Christian should dwell within their Citie or territories. Vpon which Sabinus also had geuen foorth his letters, rehearsing withall the generall recountermaunde sent forth by him, for the persecution againe of the Christians. Last of all nowe hee sendeth downe againe an other Surrecountermaund, with the causes therein conteyned, touching the safetie of the Christians, and tranquillitie of them:MarginaliaThe surrecountermaunde of Maximi. dissembled. Commaunding Sabinus to publish the same. Which edict of his is at large set foorth of Eusebius, lib. 9. cap. 9. But this Surrecountermaunde hee then dissimuled, as he had