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

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Constant<strong>in</strong>e ordered <strong>the</strong> restoration of Church property <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> “Edict of Milan.” 21 At<br />

<strong>the</strong> same time, <strong>the</strong> order was repeated <strong>in</strong> a letter to Anull<strong>in</strong>us <strong>the</strong> proconsul of Africa. 22<br />

Constant<strong>in</strong>e also wrote to Caecilian <strong>in</strong>form<strong>in</strong>g him that he had <strong>in</strong>structed Ursus <strong>the</strong><br />

ration alis <strong>in</strong> North Africa to give 3,000 folles to Caecilian for his use. 23 Caecilian was<br />

also assured that should he need any more <strong>the</strong>n he should not hesitate to seek <strong>the</strong>m<br />

from <strong>the</strong> procurator Heraclides. 24 This letter has been taken by Frend <strong>in</strong> particular,<br />

and Barnes to a lesser extent, to <strong>in</strong>dicate <strong>the</strong> prejudg<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong> schism by Constant<strong>in</strong>e. 25<br />

The letter certa<strong>in</strong>ly <strong>in</strong>dicates that Constant<strong>in</strong>e was aware of a problem <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> North<br />

African Church, and he <strong>in</strong>structed <strong>the</strong> proconsul Anul<strong>in</strong>us and Patricius <strong>the</strong> Vicar 26<br />

not to ignore any <strong>in</strong>cidents <strong>in</strong> which people “of unstable m<strong>in</strong>d are desirous of turn<strong>in</strong>g<br />

aside <strong>the</strong> laity.” 27 Caecilian was also encouraged to report such <strong>in</strong>cidents to Anul<strong>in</strong>us<br />

and Patricius. But this is all <strong>the</strong> knowledge that Constant<strong>in</strong>e displays about <strong>the</strong><br />

controversy and he would appear to be <strong>in</strong>correct; at this stage <strong>the</strong> controversy was, of<br />

course, restricted to <strong>the</strong> episcopacy and on <strong>the</strong> validity of <strong>the</strong> contest<strong>in</strong>g claims and had<br />

little to do with “<strong>the</strong> laity” as Constant<strong>in</strong>e's letter would seem to suggest. With regard<br />

to this f<strong>in</strong>al concern, if anyth<strong>in</strong>g may be <strong>in</strong>ferred, it may be a concern with public<br />

order, ra<strong>the</strong>r than any concern with strictly Episcopal matters.<br />

But it seems more likely to <strong>in</strong>dicate that <strong>the</strong> emperor, far from hav<strong>in</strong>g formed<br />

any op<strong>in</strong>ion or policy towards <strong>the</strong> anti-Caecilianist party, was carefully navigat<strong>in</strong>g his<br />

way <strong>in</strong> an area and with factions with which he was at best unfamiliar and at worse<br />

ignorant. Constant<strong>in</strong>e was doubtless far too clever to allow himself to become<br />

embroiled <strong>in</strong> factionalism this early <strong>in</strong> his reign, not least because it would have<br />

potentially weakened his authority <strong>in</strong> a part of <strong>the</strong> empire only very recently under his<br />

21<br />

Lact. DMP 48.2-12; Eus. HE 10.5.2-14; Corcoran (2000) 158-160<br />

22<br />

Eus. HE 10.5.15-17; Maier (1987) 138-139; Corcoran (2000) 153, 335 nd; Anull<strong>in</strong>us 2 PLRE 1.78-79<br />

23<br />

Eus. HE. 10.6.1-5; Maier (1987) 140-142; Corcoran (2000) 153; Ursus 2 PLRE 1.988<br />

24<br />

Heraclides 2 PLRE 1.417<br />

25<br />

Barnes (1981) 56; Frend (1952) 145<br />

26<br />

Patricius 1 PLRE 1.673<br />

27<br />

Eus. HE. 10.6.4: kai; ejpeidh; ejpuqovmhn t<strong>in</strong>a;~ mh; kaqestwvsh~ dianoiva~<br />

tugcavnonta~ ajnqrwvpou~ to;n lao;n th`~ aJgiwtavvth~ kai; kaqolikh`~<br />

ejkklhsiva~…bouvlesqai diastrevfe<strong>in</strong> ktl.<br />

58

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