On the Deaths of the Persecutors

Contents

Reading pages: 1.1–18.15 · 19.1–37.6 · 38.1–52.5

1. 1.1Lactantius addresses Donatus, a confessor, and says God has heard the prayers of the persecuted.
2. 1.2With the persecutors destroyed, the church is being rebuilt in greater glory.
3. 1.3God raised up rulers who cancelled the tyrants' decrees and brought peace.
4. 1.4After the storm God has answered his servants' prayers and wiped away the tears of the mourners.
5. 1.5The persecutors have fallen and died under God's blows.
6. 1.6God delayed their punishment to make them lasting examples that he is the one God and judge.
7. 1.7Lactantius announces his aim: to record how God destroyed the persecutors, starting from the church's beginnings.
8. 2.1Christ was crucified late in Tiberius's reign, in the consulship of the two Gemini.
9. 2.2The risen Christ spent forty days with his disciples, opened the Scriptures to them, and commissioned them to preach.
10. 2.3Christ was taken up into heaven in a cloud.
11. 2.4The apostles, joined by Matthias and Paul, spread through the world and founded churches for twenty-five years.
12. 2.5Peter came to Rome under Nero, worked miracles, and founded a faithful church there.
13. 2.6Nero, the first persecutor, crucified Peter and killed Paul, but did not escape punishment.
14. 2.7God saw his people's affliction; Nero fell from power and vanished without a known grave.
15. 2.8Lactantius rejects the belief, drawn from the Sibyl, that Nero lives on and will return before Antichrist.
16. 3.1Domitian ruled long and safely until he turned against the Lord.
17. 3.2Once Domitian persecuted, he was murdered in his palace and his memory was erased.
18. 3.3The senate destroyed Domitian's statues and inscriptions to disgrace him forever.
19. 3.4After Domitian the church enjoyed a long peace and spread to the ends of the earth, until that peace was broken.
20. 4.1After many years Decius arose to persecute the church.
21. 4.2Decius began raging against God at once, and fell at once.
22. 4.3Decius was killed by barbarians with much of his army and lay unburied.
23. 5.1Valerian persecuted and was punished in a singular way as a lesson to later generations.
24. 5.2Captured by the Persians, Valerian lived in shameful slavery.
25. 5.3Shapur used the captive Valerian as a footstool when mounting, mocking Roman pictures of victory.
26. 5.4Valerian lived on for some time as a humiliation of the Roman name.
27. 5.5His son, the emperor Gallienus, never avenged him or sought his release.
28. 5.6After his death Valerian's skin was flayed, dyed red, and displayed in a Persian temple.
29. 5.7After such punishments it is astonishing that anyone dared to oppose God again.
30. 6.1Aurelian planned to persecute but was killed before he could carry it out.
31. 6.2Aurelian was murdered by his own officers in Thrace before his edicts took effect.
32. 6.3Later tyrants ignored these examples and opposed God more boldly.
33. 7.1Diocletian, author of many evils, finally turned against God.
34. 7.2Diocletian divided the empire among four rulers and multiplied the armies.
35. 7.3Heavy taxes to pay the armies ruined farmers and fields were abandoned.
36. 7.4The provinces were split up and filled with officials who condemned, confiscated, and extorted.
37. 7.5Diocletian's avarice made him hoard his treasury while imposing levies.
38. 7.6Diocletian tried to fix prices by law.
39. 7.7The price law caused bloodshed and shortages until it was abandoned.
40. 7.8Diocletian's passion for building burdened the provinces further.
41. 7.9He built endlessly at Nicomedia, displacing its inhabitants.
42. 7.10He had buildings torn down and rebuilt, trying to make Nicomedia rival Rome.
43. 7.11Many were killed for their property.
44. 7.12Owners of fine estates were falsely accused and executed so he could seize them.
45. 8.1Maximian Herculius was like Diocletian in mind and will.
46. 8.2Diocletian was more greedy and timid, Maximian bolder in evil.
47. 8.3Controlling Italy, Africa and Spain, Maximian was less careful to hoard wealth.
48. 8.4Rich senators were falsely accused of treason and killed.
49. 8.5Maximian enriched himself by bloodshed and indulged his lusts with boys and noblemen's daughters.
50. 8.6He thought his happiness lay in denying his lusts nothing.
51. 8.7Constantius, unlike the others, was worthy to rule alone.
52. 9.1The other Maximian, Diocletian's son-in-law, was the worst of all.
53. 9.2Galerius had a barbarian savagery from his mother, a refugee from beyond the Danube.
54. 9.3His huge body matched his character.
55. 9.4Everyone feared him, even Diocletian, for the following reason.
56. 9.5Narses of Persia, following his grandfather Shapur, sought to seize the East.
57. 9.6Diocletian, afraid, sent Galerius against the Persians and waited.
58. 9.7Galerius routed Narses and returned proud, which alarmed Diocletian.
59. 9.8Swollen with pride, Galerius resented the title Caesar.
60. 9.9He claimed to be a son of Mars, slandering his own mother to seem divine.
61. 9.10His worst deeds came after he became Augustus.
62. 9.11Diocletian prospered as long as he did not shed the blood of the righteous.
63. 9.12Lactantius turns to the cause of the persecution.
64. 10.1Diocletian, anxious about the future, consulted the entrails of sacrificed animals.
65. 10.2Christian attendants made the sign of the cross, and the diviners could not read the entrails.
66. 10.3The chief diviner blamed the failure on the presence of profane men.
67. 10.4Diocletian ordered his whole court and the army to sacrifice on pain of flogging or discharge.
68. 10.5For the time being he went no further.
69. 10.6Galerius joined Diocletian in Bithynia to urge him to persecute.
70. 11.1Galerius's mother, a zealous pagan, gave sacrificial feasts which the Christians refused to share.
71. 11.2She came to hate the Christians and urged her son to destroy them.
72. 11.3Diocletian long argued against a general persecution, but could not dissuade Galerius.
73. 11.4They agreed to consult advisers.
74. 11.5Diocletian consulted others only for evil deeds, so as to share the blame.
75. 11.6The advisers, from hatred, fear, or flattery, all voted for persecution.
76. 11.7Diocletian consulted Apollo's oracle at Miletus, which answered against the Christians.
77. 11.8Diocletian yielded but ordered the persecution to be bloodless, while Galerius wanted resisters burned.
78. 12.1The feast of Terminus, 23 February, was chosen to begin the persecution, as if to put an end to Christianity.
79. 12.2At dawn officials broke into the church at Nicomedia, burned the Scriptures, and looted it.
80. 12.3The emperors, watching from the palace, debated burning the church.
81. 12.4Diocletian refused to burn it for fear the fire would spread.
82. 12.5The praetorian guard demolished the church in a few hours.
83. 13.1An edict stripped Christians of rank and legal protection and made them liable to torture.
84. 13.2A Christian tore down the edict, mocking it.
85. 13.3He was tortured and burned to death, enduring it with patience.
86. 14.1Galerius wanted more than the edict.
87. 14.2Galerius had the palace set on fire and the Christians blamed for plotting against the emperors.
88. 14.4Diocletian and his officials tortured innocent people to find the culprits.
89. 14.5Nothing was found, since Galerius's own servants were not questioned, and he kept the old man's anger alive.
90. 14.6A second fire was set two weeks later.
91. 14.7Galerius left at once, claiming to flee for his life.
92. 14.8Diocletian, deceived, ordered his own household tortured.
93. 15.1Diocletian forced his wife and daughter to sacrifice.
94. 15.2Palace eunuchs were killed and clergy condemned without trial.
95. 15.3Christians were burned in groups and palace servants drowned with millstones.
96. 15.4Magistrates forced the general population to sacrifice.
97. 15.5Altars were set in courtrooms so that litigants had to sacrifice before pleading.
98. 15.6Maximian gladly enforced the edicts in Italy.
99. 15.7Constantius only demolished church buildings and spared the Christians themselves.
100. 16.1Apart from Gaul, three savage rulers persecuted across the empire.
101. 16.2No one could recount all the crimes and punishments inflicted on the innocent.
102. 16.3Donatus himself knows these sufferings well.
103. 16.4Donatus stood firm before three successive persecuting officials.
104. 16.5Tortured nine times, Donatus nine times confessed and overcame the devil.
105. 16.6God delighted to see Donatus triumph over the persecutors.
106. 16.7The true triumph is when tyrants are overcome by a believer's steadfast faith.
107. 16.8No torture could take away Donatus's faith.
108. 16.9A true disciple and soldier of Christ cannot be overcome by any enemy or pain.
109. 16.10After nine defeats the devil gave up attacking Donatus.
110. 16.11Donatus's martyr's crown, though not yet received, is kept for him in God's kingdom.
111. 17.1Diocletian went to Rome to celebrate his twentieth anniversary.
112. 17.2Unable to bear the Roman people's freedom of speech, he left Rome before his ninth consulship.
113. 17.3Travelling in winter, he fell ill and had to be carried in a litter.
114. 17.4Seriously ill, he returned to Nicomedia and dedicated his circus there.
115. 17.5In December 304 he was thought to have died.
116. 17.6The next day word spread that he was alive.
117. 17.7Some suspected his death was being hidden until Galerius arrived.
118. 17.8He appeared on 1 March 305, barely recognizable.
119. 17.9He had recovered but was intermittently insane.
120. 18.1Galerius came to force Diocletian to abdicate, having already intimidated Maximian.
121. 18.2Galerius urged Diocletian to retire, citing Nerva's handing over power to Trajan.
122. 18.3Diocletian replied that retirement would be undignified and unsafe.
123. 18.4Nerva was a poor parallel; but all could be named Augusti if Galerius wanted the title.
124. 18.5Galerius insisted on keeping two senior and two junior emperors.
125. 18.6Galerius threatened to act for himself after fifteen hard years on the Danube frontier.
126. 18.7Diocletian tearfully agreed.
127. 18.8The choice of new Caesars was discussed.
128. 18.9Maximian's son Maxentius, Galerius's son-in-law, was hated by both.
129. 18.10Constantine, Constantius's son, was popular and present at court.
130. 18.11Galerius rejected Maxentius and Constantine and demanded Caesars under his own control.
131. 18.12Galerius proposed Severus, whom Diocletian scorned as a drunkard.
132. 18.13Galerius proposed his nephew Daia, renamed Maximinus.
133. 18.14Diocletian protested that the men were unfit, but left the responsibility to Galerius.
134. 18.15Diocletian disclaimed responsibility for what would follow.
135. 19.1On 1 May 305 everyone expected Constantine to be named Caesar.
136. 19.2The ceremony was held on a hill near Nicomedia.
137. 19.3Diocletian tearfully announced his abdication.
138. 19.4Severus and Maximinus Daia were named, to everyone's astonishment.
139. 19.5Diocletian invested Daia with his own purple and became a private man.
140. 19.6Diocletian retired; Daia, raised overnight from obscurity, received the East.
141. 20.1Galerius now saw himself as master of the world and despised the ailing Constantius.
142. 20.2He expected Constantius to die or to be easily removed.
143. 20.3He planned to raise his friend Licinius directly to Augustus.
144. 20.4He planned to rule, then retire safely behind a wall of his own appointees.
145. 20.5God frustrated all his plans.
146. 21.1Galerius set about oppressing the world.
147. 21.2Galerius wanted to impose Persian-style servitude on Roman subjects.
148. 21.3He abolished the legal privileges of the upper classes and tortured even leading citizens.
149. 21.4Noblewomen were forced into labour and free men flogged in a cruel way.
150. 21.5Galerius kept man-eating bears for amusement.
151. 21.6He watched men thrown to his bears and burned commoners.
152. 21.7Death by slow fire had first been used against Christians.
153. 21.8The torture began with slowly burning the feet.
154. 21.9Every limb was burned while the victim was kept alive with water.
155. 21.10When death finally came, the bodies were burned on a pyre.
156. 21.11The ashes were scattered in rivers and the sea.
157. 22.1Galerius applied the tortures learned on Christians to everyone.
158. 22.2He used only the harshest penalties.
159. 22.3Even beheading was a rare favour.
160. 22.4Learning and the legal profession were suppressed.
161. 22.5Laws were set aside and uneducated soldiers made judges.
162. 23.1A new census brought universal misery.
163. 23.2Everyone was registered, and family members tortured to testify against each other.
164. 23.3People were tortured into declaring property they did not own.
165. 23.4No one was exempted; ages were falsified to increase taxes.
166. 23.5Galerius treated Romans as conquered people, in revenge for Trajan's census on the Dacians.
167. 23.6Successive assessors kept raising the tax arbitrarily.
168. 23.7Taxes were exacted even for the dead; only beggars were exempt.
169. 23.8He had the beggars drowned, a bitter mockery of mercy.
170. 23.9To prevent tax evasion he killed the truly poor.
171. 24.1God's judgement on Galerius approached.
172. 24.2Galerius awaited Constantius's death but did not expect it so soon.
173. 24.3The dying Constantius asked for Constantine to be sent to him.
174. 24.4Galerius had secretly tried to have Constantine killed.
175. 24.5Galerius finally gave Constantine leave, planning to detain him.
176. 24.6Constantine left at night, taking the post-horses to prevent pursuit.
177. 24.7Galerius found Constantine gone and could not pursue him.
178. 24.8Constantine reached his dying father, who handed the empire to him.
179. 24.9Constantine's first act was to restore Christian worship.
180. 25.1Constantine's portrait was sent to Galerius, who hesitated to accept it.
181. 25.2His friends warned that the army would side with Constantine.
182. 25.3Galerius reluctantly recognized Constantine.
183. 25.4His plan to appoint Licinius was upset.
184. 25.5He made Severus Augustus and demoted Constantine to Caesar.
185. 26.1Maxentius was proclaimed emperor at Rome.
186. 26.2Galerius extended the census even to Rome.
187. 26.3The remaining praetorians and the people proclaimed Maxentius.
188. 26.4Galerius was disturbed but unwilling to recognize Maxentius.
189. 26.5He sent Severus with Maximian's former army against Rome.
190. 26.6Maxentius looked for protection against Galerius.
191. 26.7Maxentius recalled his father Maximian to power, which he gladly accepted.
192. 26.8Severus's soldiers deserted to Maxentius.
193. 26.9Severus fled to Ravenna.
194. 26.10Severus surrendered to Maximian.
195. 26.11Severus was forced to open his veins.
196. 27.1Maximian went to Gaul to ally with Constantine by giving him his daughter in marriage.
197. 27.2Galerius invaded Italy but found Rome too large to besiege.
198. 27.3Some legions deserted him.
199. 27.4Galerius begged his troops not to betray him and retreated.
200. 27.5He let his soldiers plunder to hinder pursuit.
201. 27.6His army ravaged northern Italy.
202. 27.7He returned home as a ravager of Italy.
203. 27.8He had long wished to rename the Roman empire the Dacian empire.
204. 28.1Maximian shared rule with Maxentius, who held the real power.
205. 28.2Maximian plotted to overthrow his son.
206. 28.3Maximian publicly blamed Maxentius and tore off his purple.
207. 28.4The soldiers sided with Maxentius, and Maximian was driven from Rome.
208. 29.1Maximian went to Galerius, intending to kill him and take his realm.
209. 29.2At Carnuntum Licinius was made Augustus; there were now six emperors.
210. 29.3Maximian returned to Gaul, feigning retirement, to plot against Constantine.
211. 29.4He persuaded Constantine to take only a small force against the Franks.
212. 29.5Maximian seized power and the treasury while Constantine was away.
213. 29.6Constantine returned at once and caught Maximian unprepared.
214. 29.7Maximian held out at Marseille, but the gates were opened to Constantine.
215. 29.8Constantine spared Maximian's life.
216. 30.1Maximian plotted again.
217. 30.2He urged Fausta to betray Constantine.
218. 30.3Fausta told Constantine, who set a trap with a eunuch in his place.
219. 30.4Maximian killed the eunuch, thinking it was Constantine.
220. 30.5Caught, Maximian was allowed to choose his death and hanged himself.
221. 30.6Maximian, once a great emperor, died a shameful death.
222. 31.1God next turned to punish Galerius, author of the persecution.
223. 31.2Galerius imposed new levies for his twentieth anniversary.
224. 31.3Tax-collectors tortured those who could not pay.
225. 31.4Every harvest was seized, leaving nothing to live on.
226. 31.5How could people pay in gold and silver when all their produce was taken?
227. 31.6Everyone was ruined for a celebration Galerius did not live to see.
228. 32.1Maximinus resented Licinius's promotion over him.
229. 32.2Galerius urged Maximinus to accept the arrangement.
230. 32.3Maximinus claimed precedence as the senior in appointment.
231. 32.4Galerius was enraged at his nephew's ingratitude.
232. 32.5Eventually all four rulers were recognized as Augusti.
233. 33.1In his eighteenth year Galerius was struck by a spreading genital ulcer.
234. 33.2Surgery failed and the wound haemorrhaged.
235. 33.3The wound bled again and he wasted away.
236. 33.4The cancer spread and famous physicians could do nothing.
237. 33.5Appeals to Apollo and Asclepius only made it worse.
238. 33.6His lower body rotted away while the physicians kept trying.
239. 33.7Worms bred inside him and the stench filled the city.
240. 33.8Eaten by worms, he screamed in agony.
241. 33.9Warm meat was used to draw out the worms, but more kept breeding.
242. 33.10His upper body wasted and his lower body swelled grotesquely.
243. 33.11After a year of suffering Galerius confessed God and issued an edict.
244. 34.1The edict begins: the emperors had wanted Christians to return to ancestral ways.
245. 34.2The Christians had forsaken ancient customs and made their own laws.
246. 34.3Many suffered under the order to return to the old ways.
247. 34.4Since many Christians persisted, they are allowed to exist and assemble, and must pray for the emperors.
248. 35.1The edict was posted at Nicomedia on 30 April 311.
249. 35.2Donatus was released after six years in prison.
250. 35.3Galerius was not forgiven by God and died a few days later.
251. 35.4His death became known at Nicomedia in May 311.
252. 36.1Maximinus rushed to seize Asia Minor and abolished the census to win favour.
253. 36.2Maximinus and Licinius nearly fought but made a treaty on the Bosporus.
254. 36.3Maximinus revoked the toleration by arranging for cities to petition against the Christians.
255. 36.4He appointed pagan high priests in each city to suppress Christian worship.
256. 36.5He also appointed provincial high priests.
257. 36.6Claiming mercy, he ordered Christians maimed rather than killed.
258. 36.7Confessors were blinded and mutilated.
259. 37.1Deterred by Constantine, Maximinus persecuted secretly.
260. 37.2All food at his table was sacrificial, to defile his guests.
261. 37.3He plundered whatever his predecessors had left.
262. 37.4His exactions caused famine amid good harvests.
263. 37.5He lavished confiscated wealth on soldiers and barbarians.
264. 37.6At least he robbed without killing, like a merciful bandit.
265. 38.1Maximinus's worst vice was unbridled lust.
266. 38.2Women were inspected for his bed and drowned if they refused.
267. 38.3Husbands of violated wives killed themselves; no woman was safe.
268. 38.4No one could marry without his leave, and he claimed brides first.
269. 38.5His courtiers imitated him, and noble families were forced to give daughters to barbarians.
270. 38.6His bodyguard were barbarian refugees who now ruled over Romans.
271. 38.7With these guards he made a mockery of the East.
272. 39.1His lust extended even to the empress Valeria.
273. 39.2Galerius's widow Valeria sought refuge with Maximinus, who desired her.
274. 39.3Maximinus proposed marriage, planning to divorce his wife; Valeria replied boldly.
275. 39.4Valeria refused: she was in mourning, he would divorce her too, and remarriage did not befit her rank.
276. 39.5Enraged, Maximinus exiled Valeria and her mother and condemned her friends.
277. 40.1He had a noblewoman, Valeria's friend, targeted by the governor.
278. 40.2Two other noblewomen were condemned with her.
279. 40.3A Jewish prisoner was bribed with promises of pardon to testify falsely against them at Nicaea.
280. 40.4The women were silenced and condemned amid public grief.
281. 40.5They were led to execution under heavy guard.
282. 40.6The false witness was executed and confessed the women were innocent.
283. 41.1Valeria, exiled in Syria, secretly told her father Diocletian.
284. 41.2Diocletian's requests for her return were refused.
285. 41.3Even a powerful envoy failed to secure her release.
286. 42.1Constantine ordered Maximian's images destroyed, and Diocletian's went with them.
287. 42.2Diocletian, grieving over his humiliations, resolved to die.
288. 42.3Diocletian died of starvation and grief.
289. 43.1Maximinus alone of the persecutors remained.
290. 43.2Maximinus saw the betrothal of Constantine's sister to Licinius as an alliance against him.
291. 43.3Maximinus secretly allied with Maxentius.
292. 43.4Maxentius welcomed the alliance; some thought his father's quarrel with him had been a ruse, which was false.
293. 43.5Maximian had really intended to restore himself and Diocletian.
294. 44.1War broke out; Maxentius stayed in Rome because of an oracle.
295. 44.2Maxentius had the larger army.
296. 44.3Constantine advanced and encamped by the Milvian Bridge.
297. 44.4The anniversary of Maxentius's accession, 27 October, was near.
298. 44.5In a dream Constantine was told to mark Christ's sign on his soldiers' shields.
299. 44.6The armies met and fought fiercely.
300. 44.7In Rome the crowd at the games shouted that Constantine was invincible.
301. 44.8The Sibylline books declared that the enemy of the Romans would perish that day.
302. 44.9Maxentius's army broke, and he fell into the Tiber and drowned.
303. 44.10In Rome Constantine discovered Maximinus's secret alliance with Maxentius.
304. 44.11The senate gave Constantine the senior title, to Maximinus's dismay.
305. 44.12Maximinus openly insulted Constantine.
306. 45.1Constantine and Licinius met at Milan for Licinius's wedding.
307. 45.2Maximinus marched from Syria in midwinter to attack.
308. 45.3The winter march killed many animals, an omen of defeat.
309. 45.4He besieged Byzantium, whose garrison resisted.
310. 45.5Byzantium surrendered after eleven days, and Heraclea delayed him further.
311. 45.6The two armies approached each other in Thrace.
312. 45.7Licinius advanced with 30,000 men against Maximinus's 70,000.
313. 45.8Licinius's troops were too scattered to assemble in time.
314. 46.1Battle was imminent.
315. 46.2Maximinus vowed to Jupiter to wipe out the Christians if he won.
316. 46.3An angel told Licinius in a dream to pray with his army to the highest God.
317. 46.4The angel taught him the words of the prayer.
318. 46.5On waking Licinius dictated the prayer.
319. 46.6The text of the prayer to the highest God.
320. 46.7The prayer was taught to the whole army, raising their spirits.
321. 46.8Battle was set for 1 May, Maximinus's anniversary.
322. 46.9Maximinus attacked a day early, on the plain called Serenus.
323. 46.10Licinius's army prayed together in sight of the enemy.
324. 46.11After praying three times they re-armed; the emperors met to talk.
325. 46.12Maximinus refused peace, expecting Licinius's army to defect.
326. 47.1Licinius's men attacked; the enemy was paralysed with fear.
327. 47.2Maximinus's attempts to bribe failed and his army was cut down.
328. 47.3God gave his army up to slaughter.
329. 47.4Maximinus fled disguised as a slave; his army was destroyed or surrendered.
330. 47.5He fled 160 miles to Nicomedia in a day and night and went on to the East.
331. 47.6In Cappadocia he regrouped and resumed the purple.
332. 48.1At Nicomedia on 13 June 313 Licinius published a letter restoring the church.
333. 48.2Constantine and Licinius agreed at Milan to grant religious freedom to Christians and all others.
334. 48.3No one is to be refused the freedom to follow Christianity or any religion of their choice.
335. 48.4All earlier restrictions on Christians are removed.
336. 48.5The governor is informed that Christians have full freedom of worship.
337. 48.6The same freedom is granted to all religions.
338. 48.7Confiscated meeting-places are to be returned to the Christians without charge.
339. 48.8Buyers and recipients must return the property and may seek compensation from the state.
340. 48.9Other property owned by the churches as corporate bodies is also to be restored.
341. 48.10The governor must act quickly to carry out the order.
342. 48.11Thus divine favour will continue to bless the emperors and the state.
343. 48.12The governor is to publish the letter everywhere.
344. 48.13The persecution lasted ten years and about four months.
345. 49.1Maximinus fled to the Taurus passes and then to Tarsus.
346. 49.2Trapped at Tarsus, he resolved on suicide.
347. 49.3He took poison after a feast, which caused a slow and painful death.
348. 49.4Maddened by the poison, he ate earth for four days.
349. 49.5Blinded, he began to see God judging him.
350. 49.6He blamed others, then confessed and begged Christ for mercy.
351. 49.7Maximinus died in agony.
352. 50.1God destroyed all the persecutors and their families.
353. 50.2Licinius ordered the deaths of Valeria and of Galerius's son Candidianus.
354. 50.3Candidianus was killed at Nicomedia; Valeria, disguised, fled.
355. 50.4Severus's son Severianus was executed on suspicion of aiming at power.
356. 50.5These had sided with Maximinus out of fear of Licinius; Valeria had refused her inheritance to both.
357. 50.6Maximinus's children and wife were killed.
358. 50.7The ungodly received what they had done to others.
359. 51.1Valeria and her mother were caught at Thessalonica and executed.
360. 51.2They were beheaded and thrown into the sea.
361. 52.1Lactantius has written these events down faithfully so their memory and meaning are not lost.
362. 52.2God has gathered his scattered flock and destroyed the wild beasts that ravaged it.
363. 52.3The proud titles of the persecutors have been wiped from the earth.
364. 52.4Let us celebrate God's victory with prayer so that he may make the peace permanent.
365. 52.5Donatus is asked to pray for God's continued mercy and the church's lasting peace.