Galerius

It is evident that after he had so long favored the Christians he had now contracted a prejudice against them, though at first he made use of artifice rather than violence.

This emperor had an associate called Maximian, and they had under them two Caesars, Galerius and Constantius.

The last mentioned only of the four was a person of probity and humanity.

The other three were tyrants, though the savageness of Galerius was the most remarkable.

He met Diocletian at Nicomedia, where he usually kept his court in the winter in the nineteenth year of his reign, and in the year of our Lord three oh two, and determined, if possible, to instigate him to measures against the Christians, still more sanguinary and decisive.

This man had a mother extremely bigoted to paganism, who almost every day employed herself in sacrifices.

The Christians about her refused to partake of the idolatrous feasts, and gave themselves up to fasting and prayer.

Hence her mind was incensed against the whole body, and she stimulated her son, who was as superstitious as herself, to seek their destruction.

It is evident that after he had so long favoured the Christians he had now contracted a prejudice against them, though at first he made use of artifice rather than violence.

This emperor had an associate called Maximian, and they had under them two Caesars, Galerius and Constantius.

The last mentioned only of the four was a person of probity and humanity.

The other three were tyrants, though the savageness of Galerius was the most remarkable.

He met Diocletian at Nicomedia, where he usually kept his court in the winter in the nineteenth year of his reign, and in the year of our Lord 302, and determined, if possible, to instigate him to measures against the Christians, still more sanguinary and decisive.

This man had a mother extremely bigoted to paganism, who almost every day employed herself in sacrifices.

The Christians about her refused to partake of the idolatrous feasts, and gave themselves up to fasting and prayer.

Hence her mind was incensed against the whole body, and she stimulated her son, who was as superstitious as herself, to seek their destruction.

He's an ancient source writer.

He actually says that Galerius, who was co-emperor with Diocletian-

Mm-hmm

... was the first one who was, he's what's called a traditionalist, and he was the one that was promoting, "We've gotta go back to worshiping the old gods.

So he's saying, "These, these Christians are doing something else.

Yes, like you said, they're 10% of the population, and these bad things are happening because of them." What we see then after that is a series of, like, these failed pagan sacrifices, meaning they're doing their sacrifice, but they're not getting the results they want.

And this Galerius guy points back towards the Christians and goes, "See, Diocletian? These people that you're allowing to do this in your empire are causing this for us."

Mm-hmm.

It is evident that after he had so long favoured the Christians he had now contracted a prejudice against them, though at first he made use of artifice rather than violence.

This emperor had an associate called Maximian and they had under them two Caesars, Galerius and Constantius.

The last mentioned only of the four was a person of probity and humanity.

The other three were tyrants, though the savageness of Galerius was the most remarkable.

He met Diocletian at Nicomedia, where he usually kept his court in the winter in the nineteenth year of his reign and in the year of our Lord three oh two and determined, if possible, to instigate him to measures against the Christians, still more sanguinary and decisive.

This man had a mother extremely bigoted to paganism, who almost every day employed herself in sacrifices.

The Christians about her refused to partake of the idolatrous feasts and gave themselves up to fasting and prayer.

Hence her mind was incensed against the whole body and she stimulated her son, who was as superstitious as herself, to seek their destruction.

Then when still further division seemed advisable, the principle of imperial partnership was extended, and it was decided that each Augustus should have a Caesar attached to him.

Galerius was promoted to be the Caesar of Diocletian; Constantius to be the Caesar of Maximian.

Each married the daughter of his patron, and looked forward to becoming Augustus as soon as his superior should die.

The plan was by no means perfect, but there was much to be said in its favor.

In the East, Diocletian recovered Armenia for Roman influence in 287, by placing his nominee, Tiridates, on the throne.

This was done without a breach with Parthia, but in 296 Tiridates was expelled and war ensued.

Diocletian summoned Galerius from the Danube and entrusted him with the command.

But Galerius committed the same blunder which Crassus had made three centuries and a half before.