The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon

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Scope Of Chapter XVI. A.D.

• Christianity persecuted by the Roman Emperors
• Inquiry into their Motives
• Rebellious Spirit of the Jews
• Toleration of the Jewish Religion
• The Jews were a People which followed, the Christians a Sect which deserted, the Religion of their Fathers
• Christianity accused of Atheism, and mistaken by the People and Philosophers
• The Union and Assemblies of the Christians considered as a dangerous Conspiracy
• Their Manners calumniated
• Their imprudent Defence
• Idea of the Conduct of the Emperors towards the Christians
• They neglected the Christians as a Sect of Jews
• The Fire of Rome under the Reign of Nero
• Cruel Punishment of the Christians as the Incendiaries of the City
• Remarks on the Passage of Tacitus relative to the Persecution of the Christians by Nero
• Oppression of the Jews and Christians by Domitian
• Execution of Clemens the Consul
• Ignorance of Pliny concerning the Christians
• Trajan and his Successors establish a legal Mode of proceeding against them
• Popular Clamours
• Trials of the Christians
• Humanity of the Roman Magistrates
• Inconsiderable Number of Martyrs
• Example of Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage
• His Danger and Flight

257

• His Banishment
• His Condemnation
• His Martyrdom
• Various Incitements to Martyrdom
• Ardour of the first Christians
• Gradual Relaxation
• Three Methods of escaping Martyrdom
• Alternatives of Severity and Toleration
• The Ten Persecutions
• Supposed Edicts of Tiberius and Marcus Antoninus

180

• State of the Christians in the Reigns of Commodus and Severus

211-249

• Of the Successors of Severus

244

• Of Maximin, Philip, and Decius

252-260

• Of Valerian, Gallienus, and his Successors

260

• Paul of Samosata, his Manners

270

• He is degraded from the See of Antioch

274

• The Sentence is executed by Aurelian

284-303

• Peace and Prosperity of the Church under Diocletian
• Progress of Zeal and Superstition among the Pagans
• Maximian and Galerius punish a few Christian soldiers
• Galerius prevails on Diocletian to begin a general Persecution

303

• Demolition of the Church of Nicomedia
• The first Edict against the Christians
• Zeal and Punishment of a Christian
• Fire of the Palace of Nicomedia imputed to the Christians
• Execution of the first Edict
• Demolition of the Churches
• Subsequent Edicts

303-311

• General Idea of the Persecution
• In the Western Provinces, under Constantius and Constantine
• In Italy and Africa, under Maximian and Severus
• Under Maxentius
• In Illyricum and the East, under Galerius and Maximian

311

• Galerius publishes an Edict of Toleration
• Peace of the Church
• Maximin prepares to renew the Persecution

313

• End of the Persecutions
• Probable Account of the Sufferings of the Martyrs and Confessors
• Number of Martyrs
• Conclusion

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