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1
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