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

sacred religion”. It looks as if, for Constantine, the dispute between provincial
Christians had the potential to damage the image of the Church disproportionately
and therefore that of Constantine and his government.
But perhaps to settle this amicably and to demonstrate to Aelafius that
Constantine was a fair-minded man who approached the dispute with a strong regard
for justice for both parties, the emperor again displayed his knowledge of the
Donatists’ concerns and referred to an exchange between himself and the Donatists
made after the Lateran council. Constantine reported that they rejected the Lateran
decision because their case had not been fully heard and the bishops who had heard it
“had locked themselves up in a certain place and reached the verdict most amenable to
themselves.” 62 Constantine replied that the decision of the council had been made.
The Donatists “saw fit to reply to this, in a stubborn and pertinacious manner.” 63
However, it appears to have been only their attitude and manner of approach to him
that Constantine objected to, rather than any affront that they had shown to a Church
council or to God. Despite their rudeness, their appeal bore results and because the
“number and magnitude of these claims was prolonging the disputes with such
excessive stubbornness,” 64 Constantine decided to call another council, with Caecilian
present, to settle the matter. Essentially, Constantine conceded the point to the
Donatists and apparently admitted that the Lateran council had not been as fair as it
should have been. He then gave orders to Aelafius to provide transport for Caecilian
and other bishops from the three North African provinces to Arles via Mauretania and
Spain. Aelafius was also ordered to ensure that the bishops told their congregations to
behave themselves whilst they were absent in Gaul.
It is curious that Constantine went to greater lengths to express his
dissatisfaction with the Donatist dispute to the secular official Aelafius than he did
62
Opt. App. 3; Ziwsa 205; Edwards 182: potius idem episcopi quodam loco sse clav sissent et, prout ipsis
aptum fuerat, iudicassent
63
Opt. App. 3; Ziwsa 205; Edwards 182: obnixe ac pertinaciter respondendum aestim av erunt
64
Opt. App. 3; Ziwsa 205; Edwards 183: quare cum haec tot et tanta nim ium obnixe dissen sion es protrahere
perv iderem
68