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

is naturally disposed to be truthful in all things.” 139 In 361 Julian received a Senatorial
embassy led by Symmachus and Maximus. Julian appointed Maximus as Urban
Prefect over the “better man”, i.e. over Symmachus only in deference to Maximus’
uncle, Rufinus Vulcatius. 140 Ammianus tells us that Valentinian “hated the well-
dressed, the learned, the rich and the high-born”. 141 We do not know whether
Symmachus was “well-dressed”, but Libanius thought him to be “learned” and he was
certainly “rich and high-born.” 142 The opportunity to deliver a law to Rome and to a
member of a group to whom Valentinian was not naturally favourable and who had
been on close personal relations with the former regime, and who therefore may have
been viewed as close to the usurper, should be sufficient to explain the unique severity
of this law during this moment of crisis for the fledgling regime.
Valentinian and Judaism
CTh 7.8.2 is Valentinian's only surviving law on Judaism and ordered
Remigius, the Magister Officiorum of the West 143 not to use Synagogues for quartering
his troops; instead the “homes of private citizens, not religious institutions” should be
used. 144 This law did not make a special case for Judaism, but rather implied that
Judaism should be treated as all other religions since all religion um loca were also
granted this privilege.
138
Soc. 3.13; but c/f Soc. 4.1 where Julian opted to retain their services although they had refused to
sacrifice. Soz.6.6 indicates that Valentinian was exiled for his faith under Julian, though ostensibly on
the grounds of military incompetence.
139
Jul. Ep. 50 (Loeb); 82 (Bude): tou` kalou` Summavcon punqavnou. pevpeismai
gavr, o]ti u[potj a{vn ejkwvn ei`nai yeuvsaito.
140
Amm. Marc. 21.12.24; Maximus 17 PLRE Vol 1 582; et potiore posthabito
141
Amm. Marc. 30.8.10: bene v estitos oderat et eruditos et opulentos et n obiles
142
Lib. Ep. 177.4 in Loeb; given as 1004 in Foerster
143
Remigius PLRE Vol 1 763
144
Linder (1987) 161-163: In synagogam Iudaeicae legis hospitii v elut nerito inruentes iubeas em igrare, quos
priv atorum dom us, non religionum loca habitationum m erito conv enit adtin ere
126