The Emperor of Rome who occupied the throne for more than 20 years (284-305) before his successor, Constantine. Considered the most savage of the persecutors of the church. Divided the imperial rule among four men — two "Augusti," with slightly subordinate "Caesars" in order to control the ambitions of his most likely rivals.

Two years before the end of his reign, he suddenly ordered the most vicious of all persecutions of the Christians.

[tags]BlogRodent, church-history, ChurchRodent, Constantine, Diocletian, history[/tags]

Donatist charges centered on the fact that certain Catholic bishops had handed over the Scriptures to be burned during the persecution under Diocletian. Such an act, the Donatists insisted, was a serious sin of apostasy. Since the Catholic pastors were ordained by bishops who had sinned so grievously, the Donatists believed they, rather than the Catholics, constituted the true Church of Christ. They argued that the validity of the sacrament depends upon the moral standing of the minister. Augustine became Donatisms's chief rival.

[tags]Augustine, BlogRodent, church-history, ChurchRodent, Diocletian, Donatism, history[/tags]

Augustus in the East under Emperor Diocletian

[tags]BlogRodent, church-history, ChurchRodent, Diocletian, Galerius, history[/tags]

When Emperor Diocletian divided the empire into two parts (East and West), Maxentius eventually became the senior Western Emperor when he murdered Constantius and usurped his position. Maxentius was the son of Constantius's predecessor. He was later defeated by Constantine at the battle of the Milvian Bridge in the autumn of 312.

[tags]BlogRodent, church-history, ChurchRodent, Constantine, Diocletian, history, Maxentius[/tags]

A bishop from Egypt who had lost one eye under the Emperor Diocletian. At an imperial banquet he was singled out for special honor by the new Emperor Constantine when he kissed the bishop's eyeless cheek as a sign of friendship between the empire and the church.

[tags]BlogRodent, church-history, ChurchRodent, Constantine, Diocletian, history, Paphnutius[/tags]

Nero — In A.D. 64, fire ravaged Rome under the leadership of Emperor Nero. To direct the hatred of the people away from him, Nero blamed the fire on the Christians, thus sparking an intense, bloody persecution, probably resulting in the martyrdom of Peter and Paul.

Decius — In A.D. 250, the most violent persecution the church had yet faced was instigated by the emperor Decius (249-251). A general from the Danubian frontier, Decius was determined to have no nonsense from Christians. In his eyes, they were enemies of the empire. Their atheism was responsible for the many troubles in the realm. Thus, Decius commanded all citizens of the empire to sacrifice to the traditional Roman gods. Those who did so were given certificates (libelli) as evidence that they had obeyed the order. Those who refused to obey and were unable (or unwilling) to obtain false libelli faced death. An unknown