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

although it should be noted that no mention of teachers was made, as had been done in
CTh. 16.5.13. If this is an accurate reconstruction of circumstances surrounding this
law, then it is further evidence of the manoeuvrings by individuals that went on
behind the throne to secure outcomes that suited their own individual desires.
CTh. 16.5.15 of 14 June 388, was addressed to Trifolius, Praetorian Prefect of
(probably) Illyricum, and was issued at Stobi as Theodosius continued westward. 222
Although it was short, it was also a general ‘catch-all’ law against heretics and arguably
excelled its predecessors in rhetoric. It began: “All members of diverse and perfidious
sects, who are driven by the insanity of a miserable conspiracy against God,” were not
to hold assemblies anywhere, nor to “participate in discussions, [not] to hold secret
meetings” and not “to erect impudently the altars of a nefarious treachery by the
offices of an impious hand, and to present the false appearance of mysteries, to the
outrage of true religion.” In order that the law was to reach its “appropriate
effectiveness,” Trifolius was ordered to appoint “watchmen” to “restrain the aforesaid
persons and to arrest them and to bring them before the courts.” On conviction, they
were to “pay the severest penalty both to God and to the laws.” 223 This may mean
death; if so, it would be Theodosius' second law on heretics (the previous was CTh.
16.5.9 of 31 March 382) to order capital punishment.
The brevity of the law and its comprehensive nature may well be related to the
fact that Theodosius was leaving his part of the empire (Stobi is modern day Skopje in
Macedonia) to deal with Maximus (the most successful usurper since Constantine) and
222 Also Honoré’s E8; Trifolius PLRE 1.923 who was later to become PPO Italy once Theodosius had
defeated Maximus. The editors of the PLRE believe he received this law as PPO Italy, however
Maximus was still in control of Italy at the date of this law, so Trifolius was probably PPO of Illyricum,
which was an appointment that the editors also believe he held.
223 om nes div ersarum perfidarum que sectarum , quos in deum m iserae v esania conspirationis exercet, nullum
usquam sinantur habere conv entum , non in ire tractatus, non coetus agere secretos, non nefariae
praev aricationis altaria m anus im piae officiis im pudenter adtollere et m ysteriorum sim ulationem ad
iniuriam v erae religionis aptare. quod ut congruum sortiatur effectum , in specula sublim itas tua fidissim os
quosque constituat, qui et cohibere hos possint et deprehensos offerre iudiciis, sev erissim um secundum
praeteritas sanctiones et deo supplicium daturos et legibus
236