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

was appointed Praetorian Prefect by Constantius in order to accompany the Caesar
Gallus is further evidence of the trust that Constantius had for him. 118 Ammianus
indicates that Thalassius sent reports back to Constantius on Gallus’ unstable
behaviour. Ammianus does not say whether these reports were expected by
Constantius or whether Thalassius simply produced them on his own initiative, but
the fact that Ammianus also indicates that Thalassius made no secret (even to Gallus)
of sending the exaggerated and highly unflattering reports, is evidence that Thalassius
felt himself to be secure in his relations with the emperor, even to the extent of
criticising members of his immediate family. 119 It seems unlikely that Thalassius’ belief
would have been unfounded. Despite his Christian background however, and the fact
that he may have been in a position to ask Constantius for almost anything he desired,
Thalassius did not feel moved to the same levels of anti Semitism as those which
Evagrius had reached in his legislation. Indeed Libanius posthumously noted
Thalassius for his mildness. 120 Thalassius therefore appears to stand in clear distinction
to Evagrius in terms of anti-Semitism and intolerance, as borne out in his legislation.
The harshness of the law addressed to Evagrius during Constantius’ reign,
shown through its comprehensiveness, indicates that Evagrius may fairly be considered
an anti-Semite who was attempting to gain the severest punishments possible against
Jews whose behaviour he regarded as wrong. The three laws for which he petitioned
all bear a common concern: that of a threat to Christians, and Christianity as a whole,
from Jewish proselytisers. As well as a desire to see Jewish ‘offenders’ suffer the
highest penalty. In particular, his concern at forced conversion (of slaves) and the
manner in which he presents the conversion of Christian women at the weaving
establishment (who in his account appear to have had no say in their conversion to
Judaism, like slaves) may be evidence that he feared Jewish proselytisers were able to
118 Barnes (1992) 251, 255-6;
119 Amm. Marc. 14.1.10, 7.9; Ammianus calls Thalassius “Praetorian Prefect at Court” Thalassius v ero ea
tem pestate praefectus praetorio praesens. Barnes (1998) 129-130 that Thalassius was the real power in the
East and that Gallus would be a “mere figurehead.”
120 Lib. Ep. 1404
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