From toleration to proscription: Christian Emperors' attitude toward Paganism in the Fourth Century

Résumé du document

Constantine's conversion to Christianity in 312 at the battle of the Milvian Bridge is highly debated among scholars. There is on the other hand no doubt that the Roman population was widely pagan at that time and did not convert to Christianity overnight on October 28, 312. The fourth century AD was however that of the triumph of Christianity. From an ardently persecuted religion in the first decade of the fourth century, Christianity had clearly become the most powerful and prevalent one in the Empire by the end of the emperor Theodosius I's reign in 395. This paper aims to explain the progressive shift of the Christian emperors' attitude toward paganism throughout the fourth century AD from toleration under Constantine to proscription under Theodosius. To a large extent, our knowledge of Christian emperors' legislation is based on the Theodosian Code, it is therefore essential to be aware of its limits. The Theodosian Code was compiled between AD 429 and 437. It contained only a part of the imperial legislation of the fourth century and moreover the compilers of the Code edited the laws so that only the essential aspects of each were included.

Extraits

[...] In principle, this exhortation seems to be an abandonment of Constantine's policy of religious toleration. However, superstition (superstitio) is likely to refer to divination through the entrails of sacrificial animals and other magic practices. Persecutions against ‘magicians', ‘soothsayer', ‘astrologer' and ‘diviners' were indeed intensified by Constantine's sons which were concerned that divination could be used against them and so outlawed it just as their pagan predecessors had. A law of 342[10] attested that paganism was not under attack (at least directly). [...]

[...] Ambrose's intervention made Theodosius rescind his initial order. For two years, Theodosius nevertheless continued his policy of religious tolerance and designated two pagans as consuls for 391, Symmachus in the West, Tatian in the East as well as a pagan praefectus praetorio Italiae, Nicomachus Flavianus[25]. Paradoxically, the decisive event which led Theodosius to ban paganism the bloodbath of Thessalonica - was totally unrelated to the religious matters. In retaliation for the slaying of the commander of the garrison of Thessalonica during a riot, Theodosius ordered the massacre of the population of Thessalonica. [...]

[...] Cambridge: Harvard University Press,1990. Harris, W.V. (edit.) The Spread of Christianity in the first four centuries: Essays in Explanation. Boston: Brill Jones, A. H. M. Social Background of the Struggle between Paganism and Christianity” in The Conflict between Paganism and Christianity in the Fourth Century. Momigliano, Arnaldo (edit.) London: Oxford University Press Markus, R. A. [...]

[...] by Chuvin (1990), p.57 Chuvin (1990) p.54 qtd. [...]

[...] From Toleration to Proscription: Christian Emperors' Attitude toward Paganism in the Fourth Century Constantine's conversion to Christianity in 312 at the battle of the Milvian Bridge is highly debated among scholars. There is on the other hand no doubt that the Roman population was widely pagan at that time and did not convert to Christianity overnight on October The fourth century AD was however that of the triumph of Christianity. From an ardently persecuted religion in the first decade of the fourth century, Christianity had clearly become the most powerful and prevalent one in the Empire by the end of the emperor Theodosius I's reign in 395. [...]