ten persecutions timeline
After the Visigoths sacked Rome in AD 410, Christian authors like Augustine of Hippo described the event as divine retribution for Rome’s earlier persecution of Christians [1]. As a response, the fifth century theologian Orosius wrote a History ‘against the Pagans’ that discussed the ‘Ten Great Christian Persecutions’ from Nero to Maximinus II [2]. This work had an enduring impact on scholarship, and alongside the fifth-century chronologist Sulpicius Severus, forms the foundation of the ‘Persecution’ idea. Below is a timeline describing each persecution, with a coin for each figure from the author’s personal collection.
1
AD 64-68
(4 Years)
NERO
THE PYROMANIAC PERSECUTOR (reigned AD 54-68) [3]
Nero was blamed for starting a Great Fire in Rome, but scapegoated the Christians, ordering the first Christian persecution and rooting out “their very name.” His methods were extremely inhumane but was infamous for killing the apostles Peter and Paul.
Estimated Toll: 300-1,000.
Bronze As of Nero, minted in Lugdunum (Gaul) in AD 65 [N284]
2
c. AD 81-96
(15 Years)
DOMITIAN
THE 'PIOUS' PERSECUTOR (reigned AD 81-96) [4]
With Christianity established, Domitian issued laws for a “general and cruel persecution to uproot the Church.” While not as prolific, Domitian is famous for banishing the apostle John to Patmos, where he wrote Revelations, and named Domitian the “eighth king.”
Estimated Toll: 50-300.
Orichalcum Dupondius of Domitian, minted in Rome (Italy) in AD 85 [N040]
AD 114-117
3
c. AD 98-117
(19 Years)
TRAJAN
THE SWORD PRAGMATIST (reigned AD 98-117) [5]
Trajan “erred in his judgment” of the Christians and hundreds were executed. But when his friend Pliny the Younger described the persecutions in Bithynia, Trajan “modified his edict by rescripts couched in milder terms,” which prevented searches for Christians.
Estimated Toll: 100-500.
Silver Denarius of Trajan, minted in Rome (Italy) in AD 114/5 [N176]
4
c. AD 161-180
(19 Years)
MARCUS AURELIUS
THE BESIEGED STOIC (reigned AD 161-180) [6]
First criticising Christians as “obstinate” and comparing them to performers, Marcus Aurelius reinstated Christian persecutions on a severe basis “with great severity in Asia and Gaul.” Christianity was new to Gaul and attempts to quell it were often ruthless.
Estimated Toll: 500-1,500.
Silver Denarius of Marcus Aurelius, minted in Rome (Italy) in AD 170/1 [N430]
5
c. AD 202-203
(1 Year)
SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
THE CONVERT CONSTRAINER (reigned AD 193-211) [7]
Though some describe Septimius as well-deposed towards Christians, Trajan’s legal policy towards Christians was still in place and he harassed the Christians by severe persecutions in various provinces, like Africa. He made it illegal to convert to Christianity.
Estimated Toll: 1,000-3,000.
Silver Denarius of Septimius Severus, minted in Rome (Italy) in AD 197/8 [N377]
6
AD 235-238
(3 Years)
MAXIMINUS I
THE CLERGY PURGER (reigned AD 235-238) [8]
After his predecessor Alexander and his ‘Christian’ mother Mamaea died, Maximinus I “instituted a persecution against the Christian teachers of doctrine” as an act of retribution. Many Christians were executed without trial and buried indiscriminately.
Estimated Toll: 500-3,000.
Bronze Sestertius of Maximinus I, minted in Rome (Italy) in AD 236/7 [N188]
7
AD 250-251
(1 Year)
DECIUS
THE MARTYRDOM BUREAUCRAUT (reigned AD 249-251) [9]
Decius enacted the first empire-wide persecution, publishing “merciless edicts authorising the slaughter of Christians,” possibly the result of his predecessor Philip’s tolerance. He is remembered as “that fierce tyrant,” despite only a year of persecutions.
Estimated Toll: 3,000-10,000.
Bronze AE23 of Decius, minted in Baris (Pisidia) in AD 249-251 [N159]
8
AD 257-260
(3 Years)
VALERIAN
THE BISHOP CAPTOR (reigned AD 253-260) [10]
Labelled as the “eighth enemy of the saints,” Valerian immediately began the Christian persecutions, where “blood was shed throughout the length and breadth of the Roman Empire.” He issued two letters that punished Christian leaders in AD 257 and 258.
Estimated Toll: 5,000-10,000.
Bronze AE31 of Valerian, minted in Hierapolis (Phrygia) in AD 253-260 [N317]
9
c. AD 274-275
(1 Year)
AURELIAN
THE UNREALISED SUPPRESSOR (reigned AD 270-275) [11]
When he became emperor, Aurelian revived the Sol Invictus (‘Invincible Sun’) cult and pursued a ‘one faith, one empire’ ideal. When Aurelian was ordered a persecution of the Christians, he was nearly struck by a lightning bolt. He was slain shortly afterwards.
Estimated Toll: 50-300.
Billon Antoninianus of Aurelian, minted in Cyzicus (Mysia) in AD 273/4 [N091]
10
AD 303-313
(10 Years)
THE TETRARCHY
THE CHURCH'S HAMMERS (reigned AD 293-313) [12]
Created by Diocletian and supported by Maximian, Galerius and Maximinus II, this ‘Great Prosecution’ was longer and crueller, lasting for ten years “without interruption.” With Nero and Decius, this period was the source of the violent Christian persecution story.
Estimated Toll: 15,000-25,000.
Bronze Fraction of Diocletian, minted in Antioch (Syria) in AD 296 [N290]
FOOTNOTES
1. Fernández 2005: 287.
2. Orosius’ work was called Historiae Adversus Paganos (“History against the Pagans”).
3. Nero = Orosius 7.7.10; Sulp. Sev. 2.29.
4. Domitian = Orosius 7.10.1; Sulp. Sev. 2.31; Revelations 17:10-11; Mounce 1998: 316-318.
5. Trajan = Orosius 7.12.3; Plin. Ep. 10.96-97.
6. Marcus Aurelius = M. Aur. Med. 11.3; Orosius 7.15.4; Sulp. Sev. 2.31.
7. Septimius Severus = Oros. 7.17.4; Sulp. Sev. 2.32; SHA Sev. 17.1.
8. Maximinus I = Oros. 7.19.1-2; Sulp. Sev. 2.32; Foxe 1881: 29.
9. Decius = Oros. 7.21.2; Sulp. Sev. 2.32; Scarre 1995: 170.
10. Valerian = Oros. 7.22.3; Sulp. Sev. 2.32; Keresztes 1975: 81-95.
11. Aurelian = Oros. 7.23.6; Forsythe 2012: 142-143.
12. Tetrarchy = Oros. 7.25.13, 7.26.3-5; Sulp. Sev. 2.32; Foxe 1881: 40-50.