Religious Intolerance in the Later Roman Empire - Bad request ...

Valentinian's conciliatory gestures towards the Ursinians, shown in his last
letter to Praetextatus, seems to have borne some results as an irenic state of the church
in Rome continued at least into the first few months of Olybrius’ prefecture. In his
original and now lost letter to Valentinian Olybrius referred to the present peaceful
state of the Church in Rome which in his reply the emperor noted with satisfaction:
“these persons, who had disturbed the most sacred law by riot and sedition, have been
restrained.” 82 This must be a reference to the Ursinians. Valentinian also referred to
the condition of the grain supply in Rome which, he says, “has gradually begun to
return to its former condition.” 83 It can only be speculation, but it is possible that the
sectarian violence between the Christian factions may have been exasperated by the
threat of impending famine.
However, the peace between the rival factions in Rome does not appear to have
lasted. Possibly in 370, but at any rate at some point after the previous letter to
Olybrius and before the end of Olybrius’ prefecture in autumn 370, Valentinian sent a
second letter to Olybrius and a near identical letter to Aginatius, the Vicar of Rome. 84
Again, the letters are undated, but in all probability they were sent simultaneously.
Valentinian's letter to Olybrius gives the impression that the emperor was not being
kept fully aware of events in Rome; Valentinian indicated that disturbances in Rome
had been brought to his attention by Aginatius: “as the writings of the most
distinguished Aginatius…have witnessed, to disturb peaceful affairs still delights some
persons, and repeated uproar is incited at meetings outside the city’s walls.” 85 While
Olybrius had apparently, in his latest letter to Valentinian, assured the emperor that
“there can be no discord in the city of Rome and that the people of the Christians can
enjoy profound security in peace.” 86 Perhaps there was some tension between
82
CSEL 35.10: cum et eos esse com pressos, qui sanctissim am legem tum ultu et seditione m iscuerant
83
annonam com m unis om nium patriae paulatim in statum pristinum redire coepisse testatae sunt
84
Aginatius PLRE 1.29-30
85
CSEL 35.8: sed quantum Aginatii clarissim i v iri v icariae praefecturae scripta testata sunt, adhuc
aliquantos placata m iscere delectat extram uranisque conv entibus frequens strepitus excitatur
86
ut nulla in urbe Rom a possit esse discordia Christianorum que populus profunda in otio securitate gaudere
114