Fourth Century Christianity

Back to Imperial Laws and Letters

AD 364-395 (Valentinian I – Theodosius I)

AD 395-431 (Arcadius and Honorius – Council of Ephesus and Aftermath)

Date	Ancient Source	C-N #	Emperor(s)	Summary of document
311 Apr 30	Eusebius, H.e., 8.17.3-10	7	Constantine, Galerius, Licinius, Maximin II	Persecution against Christians is officially ended, and Christians are asked to pray for the emperors and the empire. See our persecution page for more information on this period, and access the text of the edict here.
311	Eusebius, H.e., 9.1.3-6	8	Maximin II	His governmental officials are ordered to stop persecuting Christians, and to spread the message down to the local level.
311-312	Eusebius, H.e., 9.7.3-14	9	Maximin II	Maximin re-institutes persecution against the Christians. If they will not return to paganism, they should be banished from the cities.
312 Oct 28				Battle of the Milvian Bridge. Constantine takes control of the West.
313 early	Eusebius, H.e., 9.5.15-20	10	Constantine	Any property which has been taken from the Christians in persecution is to be restored. This includes gardens, buildings, or any other property, and is to be done in haste.
313	Lactantius, De Mort., 46.6	11	Licinius	Licinius instructs his prefects and tribunes to pray a prayer which he learned in a dream from an angel, asking the “Supreme Holy God” to take care of the empire and grant their requests.
313 early	Eusebius, H.e., 10.5.1-14	12	Constantine Licinius,	The “Edict of Milan.” Each person may be given authority to practice his religion in the way he sees fit. Not only are Christians allowed to worship as they choose, but any property taken from Christians must be restored. This ordinance is to be published everywhere. [The empire was not made officially Christian until 380 under Theodosius. See the law on Feb 28, 380.]
313	Eusebius, H.e., 9.9a.1-9	13	Maximin II	Maximin writes his governors, instructing them, in light of the Edict of Milan, to stop the persecution he recently renewed (above, 311-312).
313	Eusebius, H.e., 9.10.7-11	14	Maximin II	This is Maximin’s official edict of toleration. Some of his governors were continuing the persecution, so he granted Christians full and public freedom to gather and worship. He orders any property confiscated from Christians during persecution to be returned.
313 early	Eusebius, H.e., 10.6	15	Constantine	He orders imperial subsidies to be given to the catholic priests of North Africa. In addition, those who are seducing the catholic Christians of North Africa need to be corrected. [Those who are seducing the catholic Christians are either Donatists or pagans.]
313 early	Eusebius, H.e., 10.7	16	Constantine	He releases all catholic clergy from compulsory public service. [This particular letter dealt with North Africa.]
313 ? Oct 21	CT 16.2.2	29	Constantine	Christian clergy shall be exempted from compulsory public service as not to interfere with their divine services. [The Codex gives the date as 319, but Seeck, Elliot, and Pharr suggest that it should be dated to 313, and that the following law is a clarification of this one. This law has many parallels to the letter of Constantine to Anullinus, proconsul of Africa, listed immediately above, dating to Spring of 313. Coleman-Norton leaves the 319 date.]
313 ? Oct 31	CT 16.2.1	30	Constantine	Certain catholic clerics are being harassed by heretics so that compulsory public services are too much for them to bear. They should be relieved of their civic duties, and replacements found, and in the future, clerics should not be forced to fulfill compulsory public services. [The addressee is unspecified, and Pharr and Coleman-Norton emend the year to 319. This law may go with the immediately preceding law for North Africa, or it may be a later, more general law. Elliot and Seeck leave the date without emendation.]
313	Eusebius, H.e.,10.5.18-20	17	Constantine	Constantine orders both catholic and Donatist representatives to go to Rome, where the bishop Miltiades will preside over a council to deal with the schism in North Africa. This gives bishops the right to judge ecclesiastical cases. [This council met in October of 313 and ruled in favor of the Caecilian. The Donatists appealed, and so Constantine summoned the Council of Arles.]
313 late	Eusebius, H.e., 10.5.21-24	18	Constantine	Constantine orders both catholic and Donatist representatives to travel to Arles, where a larger council of bishops from all over the West will hear both sides and rule on the schism in North Africa.
313 late	Optatus, De sch. Don., Appendix 3	19	Constantine	Constantine writes to Aelafius his ambassador to North Africa, instructing him to bring the representative from both sides to Arles at public expense, and stressing the need to heal the schism. [The Council of Arles took place in August of 314.]
314	Optatus, De sch. Don., Appendix 5	20	Constantine	Constantine, frustrated, orders the dissatisfied Donatists, who will not yield to the rulings of Arles, to be brought to his court for the hearing for which they have appealed.
315	Augustine, C. Cres.,3.70.81 and Letter 88.4	21	Constantine	It had been discovered that the evidence used against Caecilian was based on a forgery, and so Constantine summons the forger to appear before him and the Donatists in Rome, so that once the evidence is presented, the schism can be healed.
315	Optatus, De sch. Don., Appendix 6	22	Constantine	Constantine summons the catholic and Donatist representatives from North Africa to a third hearing at Milan, where the new evidence can be examined before them all, including Caecilian, whom he has summoned from North Africa.
315 Oct 15	CT 16.8.1	23	Constantine	The Jewish community may not stone a Jewish convert to Christianity. Anyone who participates in such an act shall be burned. If anyone from the people joins the Jewish sect, he shall receive the deserved punishments with them.
315	Optatus, De sch. Don., Appendix 8	24	Constantine	Constantine tells the prefect of Africa to have the churches prepare for his visit (which never actually took place), when he would come deliver a verdict on the schism and rule what type of worship is acceptable and bring uniformity back to the church.
316 June 8	CI 1.13.1	26	Constantine	Constantine adds a fourth legal method for freeing slaves – one may now publicly free his slave in a church before the bishop.
316	Augustine, C. Cres.,7.71.82	27	Constantine	Constantine, after hearing the charges brought against Caecilian, declares him innocent.
316	–	–	Constantine	[Constantine passes a law against the Donatists, now lost, but mentioned in CT 16.6.2 (on Oct 17, 377, below). This law seems to be repealed in 321 or 322 by a law recorded by Optatus, C. Don., appendix 9 (below). Date uncertain.]
317-319 May 23	CT 9.16.3	–	Constantine	Magicians and such who use their art against the minds of men are guilty and shall be punished; however, to use this art for good, to seek favorable weather during harvest for example, is allowable under the law. [The date listed is 321-324; however, Bassus, the prefect to whom the law was issued, held office from 317-319.]
318 June 23	CT 1.27.1	28	Constantine	Constantine gives Christians the right to take their cases before an ecclesiastical court rather than a secular court. The ruling of those bishops will carry the same authority as a secular court.
319 May 15	CT 9.16.2	–	Constantine	Even friendship with the owner of the house is no excuse for a soothsayer to enter a residence.
319 Sept 1	CT 9.16.1	–	Constantine	A soothsayer who approaches another’s private residence for any reason is in violation of the law. The “superstitions” of soothsayers are limited to public ceremonies. [The date listed is February 1, but Pharr notes that Maximus, the prefect to whom the law was issued, assumed this office on September 1; thus, either September 1 is accurate, or the date actually was February 1 of the year 320.
320 Jan 31	CT 8.16.1	31	Constantine	Laws passed in former times which punished celibacy and childlessness are now repealed. This applies to women as well.
320 ? May 26	CT 16.2.10	32	Constantine	Clerics of the church are exempt from tax payments and menial compulsory public services, as are their wives, children, and servants. This applies even if they made the money by trade. This is an incentive to join the clergy. It is assumed their money will be used to help the poor, which is why it is not taxed. [The date given for this law is 353. But the consuls listed do not match those living in 353, and both Pharr and Coleman-Norton have chosen to put this law in 320.]
320 ? July 18	CT 16.2.3	33	Constantine	This law references a previous law, stating that no decurion or anyone else capable of fulfilling compulsory public service should be admitted to the clergy, but only those from the poorer ranks should take ecclesiastical office. The previous law is either non extant, or a textual emendation is necessary (see note). This law clarifies that the restriction of decurions becoming clergy was not retroactive, and so decurions who had joined the clergy before the promulgation of the first law did not have to leave their positions in the church. [Seek and Elliott change the year of this law and of 16.2.6 (listed on June 1, 320) to 329. According to their emendation, the previously mentioned law in 16.2.3 is actually 16.2.6, and the decurions were not restricted from the clergy until 329.]
321 Mar 3	CI 3.12.2	34	Constantine	All judges, inhabitants of cities, and craftsmen should rest on Sunday. But farmers are free to work on Sunday as necessary.
321 Mar 3	CT 16.10.1	–	Constantine	If a public structure is struck by lightning, according to custom an inquiry will be made of the soothsayers as to the portent of the lightning.
321 Apr 18	CT 4.7.1	35	Constantine	This law augments the law of June 8 316. Any slave freed before a bishop is automatically granted Roman citizenship. Clergy may free their slaves through their wills and it may be immediately enacted by a bishop.
321 July 3	CT 16.2.4	36	Constantine	Every person shall have the right to leave property to the catholic Church in his will.
321 July 3	CT 2.8.1	37	Constantine	This is an exception to the law passed March 3, 321 regarding Sunday. Though most legal work is still forbidden, the legal transactions connected to freeing slaves may be conducted on Sunday.
321	Eusebius, VC, 4.20	38	Constantine	Constantine requires all soldiers to gather on Sundays and recite a prayer he composed to the almighty God. [The date is somewhat speculative. Eusebius only records that this took place shortly after Sunday was declared a day of rest.]
321-322	Optatus, De sch. Don., Appendix 9	39	Constantine	Constantine orders toleration of Donatists in North Africa. No action is to be taken against them. [Based on CT 16.6.2 (on Oct 17, 377, below), it may be surmised that this repeals a law against the Donatists which is no longer extant.]
321 Dec 11	CT 16.8.3	–	Constantine	Jews can and should serve on municipal councils; however, two or three Jews may be given permission to be exempt from this compulsory public service.
323 Dec 25	CT 16.2.5	41	Constantine	Christians shall not be forced into participating in pagan practices; anyone who forces a Christian into such an act shall be publicly beaten, unless he holds an honorable rank, in which case he will be fined and the money given to the state treasury. [The date listed is May 25, but according to Coleman-Norton, Pharr and Elliot, Constantius would not have been in Sirmium (where the law was issued) until December, so the date should be Dec. 25, 323.]
323	Martyrdom of Habib the Deacon	42	Licinius	All who will not make a pagan sacrifice were to be burned with fire. [The persecution under Licinius is described in Eusebius, H.e. 10.8.14-19 and VC 1.51-56 and 2.1-2.5. The Martyrdom of Habib the Deacon is a Syriac document from Egypt, now at the British Museum. This persecution only affected the eastern portions of the empire.]
324	Eusebius, VC 2.48-60	44	Constantine	Constantine encourages all citizens of the empire, both pagan and Christian, to live in peace and unanimity without restraining the other group. [See note on the authenticity of anti-pagan legislation in the Life of Constantine.]
324	Eusebius, VC 2.46	45	Constantine	After his victory over Licinius, Constantine gives permission to restore, repair, or enlarge the churches in the east which had been damaged in the persecution under Licinius. The governors are instructed to give whatever help is requested.
324	Eusebius, VC 2.44-45	–	Constantine	Constantine passes a law against idol-worship, statues, divination, and especially against pagan sacrifices. [See note on the authenticity of anti-pagan legislation in the Life of Constantine.]
324	Eusebius, VC 2.24-42	46	Constantine	After his victory over Licinius, Constantine addresses the wrongs committed against Christians in the eastern half of the empire. All exiled Christians, as well as those banished to the mines or made slaves, are to return to their previous position. All who were deprived of property are to have their property restored. Anyone who has lost rights or military office is to be restored. Christians are given the right to leave their property to the church in their wills. [The authenticity of this document has been questioned, but papyrus discovered in the twentieth century strengthened the case for authenticity. See A.H.M. Jones, “Notes of the Genuineness of the Constantinian Documents in Eusebius’ Life of Constantine,” The Journal of Ecclesiastical History 5 (1954), pp. 197-200.]
324	Eusebius, VC 2.64-72	47	Constantine	Constantine writes to Alexander of Alexandria and his priest Arius, attempting to compel them to put aside what he sees as a trifling disagreement over words.
324	Mss: Paris syr. 62 and Brit. Mus. Add. 14, 526 and 528.	48	Constantine	Constantine directs bishops from all over the east to assemble at Nicaea, redirecting the council which was originally planned to meet in Ancyra.
325	see note	49	Constantine	Constantine is on record as having addressed the council at Nicaea three times. The first time he discouraged the bishops from accusing one another, and then burned the accusations. The second, he expressed his desire that the schism caused by the Arians be healed. Third, he dismissed the council and encouraged the use of the Nicene Creed.
325	Anonymous Church History 3, appendix 1	50	Constantine	Constantine explains to the congregation at Nicomedia why he exiled their bishop Eusebius. Eusebius had been the leading proponent of Arianism, and had encouraged Arians from Egypt even after the Council of Nicaea. He warns them not to defend him, or they too will be punished. [Within a few years, Eusebius of Nicomedia had regained the emperor’s favor. He was eventually made bishop of Constantinople and baptized Constantine on his deathbed.]
325	Anonymous Church History 3, appendix 2	51	Constantine	Constantine warns a certain Theodotus that if he does not support and uphold the ruling of the Council of Nicaea, he will be banished as other bishops already have.
325	Eusebius, VC 3.17-20	52	Constantine	Constantine encourages all churches throughout the empire to celebrate Easter according to the ruling of the Council of Nicaea. There is no penalty for disobedience, however.
325	Socrates, H.e. 1.9	53	Constantine	Constantine exhorts the Alexandrians to follow the Nicene faith, which he praises, and to disavow Arius, whom he condemns. The council is to be regarded as the will of God.
325 Oct 1	CT 15.12.1	–	Constantine	Since gladiatorial games are eliminated, those criminals who formerly would have been made gladiators as punishment, are now to be sent to the mines.
326	Eusebius, VC 3.30-32	54	Constantine	Constantine orders a church to be built over the holy sepulcher and commands the local government officials to assist.
326 June 1	CT 16.2.6	55	Constantine	This is a repetition and qualification of a law from July 18, 320. While the clergy are granted exemption from compulsory public services, exemption cannot be given indiscriminately to everyone who claims to be part of the clergy, because the wealthy are not supposed to be clergy. Also, the roles of the clergy cannot be expanded in order to help exempt more people from public services. When a clergyman dies, his successor should not be chosen from the wealthy, for the wealthy should assume secular obligations. [Seeck and Elliot (listed ) emend both this law and the law 16.2.3, listed on July 18th, 320. They move both of these laws to 329, thus reversing their order. In that case, this law would be the original restriction on clergy exemptions, and 16.2.3 would be a qualification released a month later.]
326 Sept 1	CT 16.5.1	56	Constantine	Exemption from compulsory public services shall only be granted to clergy of the catholic church, and not to heretics or schismatics.
326 Sept 25	CT 16.5.2	57	Constantine	Novatians may posses their own church buildings and cemeteries, provided they are rightfully theirs and did not once belong to the catholic Church. [Novatians disagreed with the Church about absolution.]
327	Socrates, H.e. 1.25	58	Constantine	Constantine invites Arius to his court, where he may end his exile by confessing the Nicene faith before Constantine. Arius is allowed to use public transportation. [date uncertain]
328	Anonymous Church History  3.15.1-5	71	Constantine	Constantine pleads with the bishop Alexander of Alexandria to accept Arius back into communion. [It is possible that this letter was written later to Athanasius.]
330	Optatus, De sch. Don., appendix 10	59	Constantine	Constantine writes to the Numidian catholic church, granting them exemption from compulsory public service. He orders that a new basilica be built at public expense, to replace a basilica taken by the Donatists.
330 Feb 5	CT 16.2.7	60	Constantine	Lectors, subdeacons, and other clergy shall not have to serve as local senators. Given to the consular of Numidia.
330	Eusebius, H.e. 3.60-62	61	Constantine	Constantine writes to Antioch, advising them not to elect Eusebius of Caesarea as their bishop, since that would go against canon 15 of the Council of Nicaea. Three letters in this connection survive.
330	Eusebius, VC 3.52-53	63	Constantine	Constantine orders pagan altars and idols to be destroyed at Mambre. Those who used them are to be banished, and once the area has been purged a basilica is to be built. If the local governors ignore this command they will be punished. [See note on the authenticity of anti-pagan legislation in the Life of Constantine.]
330 Nov 29	CT 16.8.2	–	Constantine	Jewish elders shall be exempt from compulsory public service. If such men are currently decurions, they are exempt from travel.
331 Dec 1	CT 16.8.4	–	Constantine	Jewish priests and synagogue leaders are exempt from compulsory public service of a corporeal nature.
332 or 322	Eusebius, VC, 3.64-65	40	Constantine	Constantine forbids heretical groups to assemble. Their buildings must be surrendered to the catholic church. [See note on the authenticity of anti-pagan legislation in the Life of Constantine.]
333	Eusebius, VC 4.36	64	Constantine	Constantine orders Eusebius of Caesarea to prepare 50 copies of the Sacred Scriptures in well-prepared parchments, easily read aloud and portable, written by competent and accurate copyists. This is to be done as quickly as possible.
333 May 5	CS 1	65	Constantine	Judicial decisions made by bishops are to be upheld. Enforcement is to be the responsibility of the prefect. If a party to a lawsuit may request the case to be heard by a bishop rather than a secular judge, the request is to be granted.
333 or 327	Socrates, H.e. 1.9	66	Constantine	Constantine orders that Arians now be referred to as Porphyrians, that all works of Arius or Arians be burned, and that anyone hiding a work of Arius suffer capital punishment.
333 or 327	Anonymous Church History 3.19	67	Constantine	Constantine sends a long, belittling letter to Arius and his followers. At the end, he threatens to heavily fine the Arians and force them to accept compulsory public services unless they immediately return to the catholic faith. If Arius returns, he promises to be lenient.
334	Athanasius, Apol. sec. 68	68	Constantine	Constantine, hearing that Arsenius is alive, has found all the charges against Athanasius to be false, the results of wicked plots against him. He condemns the recent disturbances in the streets of Alexandria. He instructs Athanasius to take this letter with him and read it publicly often. He promises to personally look into any future allegations or disturbances against Athanasius, and punish anyone bringing false accusations or stirring up trouble.
334	Athanasius, Apol. sec. 70	69	Constantine	In a letter, Constantine rebukes the Alexandrians for causing trouble and encourages them all to accept Athanasius, whom he has cleared of all charges against him.
334	Athanasius, Apol. sec. 70	70	Constantine	Constantine praises John Archaph, a former leader of the Melitians, for uniting with Athanasius. He summons him to his court by means of public transportation.
335	Athanasius, Apol. sec. 59	72	Constantine	Constantine orders Athanasius to re-admit Arius or face deposition.
335	Eusebius, VC 4.42	73	Constantine	Constantine writes to the Council of Tyre, instructing them to put an end to all factions in the church.
335	Athanasius, Apol. sec. 81	74	Dionysius	Dionysius, the imperial representative at the Council of Tyre, writes to the fact-finding commission sent from Tyre to Alexandria. He warns to be impartial as not to justify criticism about the way the case was handled.
335	Athanasius, Apol. sec. 86	75	Constantine	Constantine relates to the Council of Tyre how Athanasius met him unexpectedly in Constantinople, complaining about ill-treatment at Tyre. According to Athanasius’ reasonable request, he now summons the Council of Tyre to relocate in Constantinople where the emperor can hear the charges against Athanasius. [When no one from Tyre appeared, the Emperor sent Athanasius into exile in Trier, either to keep him safe or to get him out of the way (Apol sec. 9). Athanasius was recalled by Constantius early in his reign.]
336 May 8	CT 16.8.5 CT 16.9.1 CS 4	76	Constantine	Jews are not allowed to harass Jewish converts to Christianity, and will be punished in accordance with the nature of the act. Also, if a Jew circumcises a non-Jewish slave, the slave is to be taken from the Jew and remain free.
337 July 17	Athanasius, Apol. sec. 87	77	Constantine II	Constantine announces that Athanasius is to be restored as bishop of Alexandria. He claims that the reason Athanasius had been exiled was for his own safety. [Other bishops were also returned at the death of Constantine.]
337	Athanasius, Apol. sec. 85	78	Constantius	A church is to be built for the priest Ischyras, an opponent of Athanasius who accused him falsely.
339 Aug 13	CT 16.9.2	79	Constantius, Constans	Jews may not hold slaves of any other people and must let them go free. Jews who circumcise non-Jewish slaves shall be executed. If a Jew is found to own Christian slaves, all his slaves are to be taken away and freed.
339 Aug 13	CT 16.8.6	80	Constantius, Constans	Women who were formerly employed by the government as weavers, but were led away by Jews, may now return to weaving. Hereafter, Jews may not unite Christian women in their villainy. If they are found proselytizing Christian women, they shall suffer capital punishment.
341	CT 16.10.2	–	Constantius	Pagan superstition and sacrifices are completely forbidden, in accord with the law set forth by Constantine. [The law of Constantine referred to may be from 324 just after the victory of Licinius but see the note on the authenticity of anti-pagan legislation in the Life of Constantine and Curran (listed in note), p. 185]
342 Feb 26	CT 16.2.11	81	Constantius, Constans	The sons of clergy are exempt from compulsory public service as long as they are below the legal age. [Since they were below the legal age, their property was their father’s estate which their fathers had given to them when they joined the clergy. But until they reached the legal age, the estate was still under the control of their father. See Elliot in bibliography above.] [The code lists the date as 356. Pharr and Coleman-Norton prefer 342 on the basis that Longinianus, to whom this statute is addressed, was Prefect of Egypt in 342.]
343 July 4	CT 15.8.1	82	Constantius	If a prostitute converts to Christianity, only another Christian may buy her as a slave.
343 Aug 27	CT 16.2.8	83	Constantius	Clergy and their servants shall not have to pay any taxes, or any new taxes in the future, nor shall they have to quarter strangers, and they shall be tax exempt if they start their own business.
345 or 346	Athanasius, Apol. sec. 51	84	Constantius	Constantius summons Athanasius to his court where he will be restored from exile to his position as bishop of Alexandria.
346	Athanasius, Apol. sec. 54	85	Constantius	Constantius announces that Athanasius has been cleared of all charges, is being returned to Alexandria, and that all ordinances against him and his followers are void. There should be no suspicion against him.
346	Athanasius, Apol. sec. 54-55	86	Constantius	Constantius writes to the Alexandrians, informing them that Athanasius has been restored, and exhorting them to obey the laws against rioting.
346	Athanasius, Apol. sec. 56	87	Constantius	Constantius writes to the prefect of Egypt, instructing him to recognize Athanasius, and confirming that the followers of Athanasius are to receive the standard clerical exemptions from compulsory public service. If any laws are found against Athanasius and his followers, they are void.
346	Athanasius, Hist. Ar. ad Mon. 23	88	Constantius	Constantius instructs the prefect of Egypt to send copies of every document dealing with Athanasius to the imperial court.
346 Nov 1	CT 16.10.3	–	Constantius	Although pagan religious practices are banned (see law in 341, CT 16.10.2), temple buildings situated outside the walls are to be preserved for the sake of the circus and other amusements. [On the basis of the dates of the administration of the addressee, Catullinus, Pharr prefers 342 to 346, an alternative date.]
346 Dec 1	CT 16.10.4	–	Constantius	Pagan temples are to be closed; access to them is denied, and violators face capital punishment. The property of a violator will be given to the state treasury. Governors who fail to carry out this punishment will be punished. [There are three possible dates: 346, 354, 356. Bradbury leans toward 346 for the sake of consistency with 16.10.3. The addressee, Taurus, was Prefect 355-361. Bradbury concedes the date is not certain.]
347	Passion of Maximian and Isaac §3	–	Constantius?	The Donatists were ordered to be reconciled with the catholic church in North Africa. Those who refused were to be exiled or killed. [Donatist exiles were allowed to return under Julian in 362. That they were later allowed to return gives credence to this law of banishment. See translation and law of 362, Coleman-Norton #120 below.]
349 Apr 11	CT 16.2.9	89	Constantius	Clergy are exempted from all compulsory public services and municipal duties. Their sons should continue in the clergy unless obligated by service in the Senate.
350 c. June	Athanasius, Apol. ad Const. 23	90	Constantius	Constantius writes a letter to Athanasius at the death of Constans (Feb. 350). He encourages him that he need not fear. Constantius desires to have him as bishop in his own place ” in every season.” He is encouraged to fulfill his patriarchal duties of teaching and prayers.
352 ? July 3	CT 16.8.7	91	Constantius, Julian	Persons who join Judaism from Christianity, if the accusation can be proven, shall have their property confiscated and given to the state treasury. [The alternate date given is 357.]
353 Nov 23	CT 16.10.5	–	Constantius	Night-time pagan sacrifices, which had briefly been allowed under the usurper Magnentius, are again forbidden.
354 Aug 22	CT 9.25.1	92	Constantius	Anyone who rapes a consecrated Christian virgin or widow will suffer the same capital punishment as any rapist.
354 Dec 1	CT 16.10.4	–	Constantius	See Dec 1 346 for further information.
355	Eusebius of Vercelli, opera	93	Constantius	He writes to Eusebius of Vercelli, instructing him to attend the Council of Milan (which is in progress, but Eusebius has refused to attend).
355	Athanasius, Hist. Ar. ad Mon. 33	94	Constantius	Constantius added his weight to the Council of Milan, which he had convened to condemn Athanasius. He commands that the bishops either condemn Athanasius or suffer banishment. [This may not be a verbatim quotation from Constantius, but we know that he exiled a handful of bishops who refused to condemn Athanasius. While the imperial orders do not survive, many other Western supporters of Athanasius were soon to be exiled, for instance Liberius of Rome and Hilary of Poitiers. For the Council of Milan, see Theodoret , H.e. 2.12]
355 Sept 23	CT 16.2.12	96	Constantius, Constans	Bishops shall not have to appear before secular judges; accusations against them shall be brought before other bishops. [Given as a letter Sept. 23, accepted on October 7.]
356 Feb 6	CT 13.1.1	97	Constantius, Julian	Those who work for the church as gravediggers are exempted from the tradesmen’s tax.
356 Feb 20	CT 16.10.6	–	Constantius	Those guilty of idolatry or pagan sacrifices must suffer capital punishment.
356 Nov. 10	CT 16.2.13	101	Constantius, Julian	Privileges granted to the church in the city of Rome shall be firmly guarded. [The manuscript reads 357, but Barnes moves the date to 356 based on his study of imperial residences.]
356 Dec 1	CT 16.10.4	–	Constantius	See Dec 1 346 for further information.
356 Dec 4	CT 9.16.5	–	Constantius	Constantius declares a curse on those who perform the magic arts and thereby “jeopardize the lives of innocent persons.” [The year listed is 357; however, Pharr proposes 356 since the law was given at Milan and Constantius left Milan in April of 357.]
356 Dec 28	CT 16.2.14	102	Constantius, Julian	Clergy, along with their wives, children, and servants, are forever exempt from paying taxes (even if they engage in trade) or rendering compulsory public service. [Constantius left Milan April 28, 357; therefore, Pharr believes that this law must have been given in 356, although 357 is also listed in the text. The law was given December 6 and read into the records on December 28.]
357 June 25	CT 9.16.4	–	Constantius	Anyone who consults a soothsayer on account of curiosity of the future will suffer capital punishment.
357 July 5	CT 9.16.6	–	Constantius	Even a high-ranking man convicted of wizardry will face torture. [The date listed is 358; however, Pharr suggests 357.]
357	Athanasius, Apol. ad Const., 30	98	Constantius	He writes to the Alexandrians, threatening death to anyone who will continue to support Athanasius instead of the new bishop, George.
357	Athanasius, Apol. ad Const. 31	99	Constantius	He requests the leaders of the kingdom of Auxumites to send the missionary Frumentius, who had been sent there by Athanasius, back to Alexandria, to report to the new bishop, George.
357	Athanasius, Hist. Ar. ad Mon. 43	100	Constantius, Julian	He writes to bishop Hosius of Cordova, instructing him to condemn Athanasius.
358	Sozomen, H.e. 14.4	103	Constantius	Constantius writes that the followers of Eudoxius (the Anomians), who had taken over Antioch, do not have his support and that they should lose the rights of holding councils of public assemblies.
359 May 28	Hilary, Hist. Frag. A, 8 (VIII)	104	Constantius	Constantius writes to the Council of Rimini, instructing them to come up with a credal formula and to decree nothing in respect to the easterners. He vows to make void anything they decide against the easterners.
359	Athanasius, De Syn. 55	105	Constantius	The western bishops assembled at Rimini had written to Constantius, informing him that they intended to maintain their stance against Arianism, and asking to go home. He writes back, instructing them to wait there until he sends them a course of action which he expects them to follow.
360 Jan 18	CT 11.1.1	106	Constantius	Exemption from taxes may only be given to catholic churches and a few select individuals. Governors who have granted tax-exemption beyond this are to pay the difference themselves.
360 June 30	CT 16.2.15	107	Constantius, Julian	Clerics who have taken on small business to provide supplemental income shall be exempt from compulsory public service. But those who were tradesmen before becoming clergy are still subject to taxation. All clerics who hold land as personal property are subject to taxation and compulsory public service.
361 Feb 14	CT 16.2.16	108	Constantius, Julian	Persons of extraordinary virtue shall live in perpetual security [This might mean an exemption from compulsory public service for clergy.].
361 Aug 29	CT 12.1.49	109	Constantius	This is a somewhat complicated law about property and the clergy. Bishops may retain property. Priests whose virtue is approved by the community may retain their property. But a lower cleric whose piety is not celebrated, but who entered the priesthood to gain tax exemptions, shall be forced to give up 2/3 of his property, either to his family or the municipality.
361 Aug 29	CT 8.4.7	110	Constantius	If imperial officials attempt to enter the clergy without having fulfilled their financial obligations, as a means of escaping them, they shall give 1/3 of their property either to relatives or the office staffs where they serve.
362	Julian, Ep. 378C-80D	111	Julian	Julian castigates the pagan Alexandrians, who had murdered Athanasius’ rival archbishop George when he ruined the temple of the local god Serapis. They should not have broken the law, but should have taken out their grievances legally.
362 ?	Gregory Naz. Con. Iul. 1.76	–	Julian	According to Gregory Nazianzus, Julian issued a decree that the Christian church be referred to as “the Galilean” movement.
362	Julian Ep. 377D-78C	113	Julian	Julian asks the prefect of Egypt to carefully collect the late George’s library. He would have the “Galilean” books burned, but that could lead to the accidental destruction of the pagan works.
362	Julian, Ep. 404B-C	112	Julian	Julian recalls all who were banished under Constantine in connection with “the Galilean madness” to be returned from exile. [This apparently does not mean they are to be restored to their sees, as Athanasius was soon banished for presuming to take back the bishopric of Alexandria.]
362 Mar 13	CT 12.1.50	114	Julian	Among other things, it is decreed that Christian decurions cannot plead for exemption from their obligations based on their Christianity. [This seems to be a reference to the exemptions given to the clergy by previous emperors.]
362	Julian Ep. 398C-9A	115	Julian	Julian, angered by Athanasius’ resumption of the bishopric of Alexandria without his permission, expels him from Alexandria (beginning Athanasius’ fourth exile).
362	Julian, Ep. 422A-4A	116	Julian	No Christians are allowed to teach the pagan classics (essentially debarring them from being teachers). Any student may study them, however.
362 Aug 1	Julian Ep. 435D-8C	117	Julian	In this letter Julian reveals that he has restored property to the non-Arians who lost it under Constantius. He had upheld legislation that a Christian may not be forced to sacrifice even if his public office requires it. He instructs Christians not to riot. He also informs us that he had taken away the right of bishops to serve as secular judges.
362	Julian Ep. 380D-1A	118	Julian	Julian writes to the Byzacenes, informing them that all from the wealthy senatorial class among them were expected to resume their senatorial duties, whether or not they be Christian clergy. The only exceptions are those who have served in the capital.
362	–	–	Julian	Though the decree does not exist, there are multiple reports that Julian forced Christians to pay for temples they had demolished. (e.g. Sozomen H.e. 5.5, Theodoret H.e. 3.7.6-10)
362	Julian Ep. 376C-D	119	Julian	Julian decrees that Christians are not to be harmed in any way, but pagans are to be given preference to them. He blames Christians for the tumultuous state of the empire.
362	Augustine, Cont. Litt. Pet. 2. 97.224	120	Julian	Donatists exiles are to return to North Africa. [It seems a law passed in 347 ended up in the expulsion of many Donatists from North Africa.]
362	Julian, Ep. 376A-C	121	Julian	Julian censures the prefect for allowing Athanasius to stay in Alexandria after he was supposed to be exiled. He threatens a heavy fine for non-compliance.
362	Julian, Ep. 432C-5D	122	Julian	Julian denies the requests of some Alexandrians to allow Athanasius to remain in Alexandria. He orders that his reply be published to the Alexandrians.
363	Julian, Ep. 424B-5A	123	Julian	In response to riotous behavior against Valentinians, Julian orders that the money and property of the Arian congregation at Edessa (who possessed a rich basilica) be confiscated. He threatens exile and sword for those who continue the civil strife.
363	Athanasius, Ep. ad Iov. appendix	124	Jovian	He denies the requests of a delegation of Egyptian Arians, seeking some other bishop than Athanasius.
363 or 364	Athanasius, Ep. ad Iov.	125	Jovian	He reinstates Athanasius as bishop of Alexandria.

Back to Imperial Laws and Letters

AD 364-395 (Valentinian I – Theodosius I)

AD 395-431 (Arcadius and Honorius – Council of Ephesus and Aftermath)

H. Drobner (The Fathers of the Church: A Comprehensive Introduction, trans. S. Schatzmann, updated by W. Harmless and H. Drobner [Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2007] , pp. 187-89) makes a strong case for placing the end of the the “fourth-century” period of church history at the year 430, and we have followed his suggestion, with a few exceptions. For the interested reader, Coleman-Norton lists 174 more laws and letters up to the year 534.

Back to Top

Created by GAD and AJW

No Responses yet