Decius and the First Empire-Wide Christian Persecution
Gaius Messius Quintus Decius came to power in 249 CE after overthrowing Philip the Arab in battle. He governed during one of the most dangerous periods of the third century crisis. Decius framed his religious edict as a restoration programme — a return to traditional Roman piety whose neglect had, he believed, brought divine disfavour. The edict of 249-250 CE required all inhabitants to perform a sacrifice in front of commissioners and receive a signed and witnessed libellus certifying compliance. Scores of these certificates survive on papyrus from Egypt. The persecution hit church leadership hard: bishops Fabian of Rome, Babylas of Antioch, and Alexander of Jerusalem died in custody or from mistreatment. Origen, the greatest theological scholar of the age, was tortured and died from his injuries. Many Christians apostatized, creating a serious schism in the church — the Novatianist controversy. Decius was defeated and killed alongside his son at the Battle of Abritus (251 CE) — the first Roman emperor to die in battle against a foreign enemy. The persecution ended with his death.
- Year: 249 CE
- Category: Political
