The Roman Empire was one of the largest empires and most dominating empires over a 1200 year period. No other empire lasted as long & ruled as much of the known world as Rome did before it s fall. In Daniel Chp 7:7 he describes the Roman Empire when he writes After this I kept looking into the night visions and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with it s feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. When Daniel wrote this (circa 606BC ~ 536BC) he could not have known that the beast he was describing was starting to become a world power and that in less than 50 years the Roman Republic would exist.
Early Years Of The Roman Empire 753 B.C. - The traditional date for the founding of what would become the Roman Empire. According to legend, Romulus & Remus founded the city of Rome known as the City of Seven Hills. 200 BC 100 BC 509 B.C. - The Roman Republic begins after the overthrow of the monarchy. Two consuls, advised by the Senate, governed the Republic from its creation to about 27 B.C. Elections of new consuls took place annually. During these years public offices normally only lasted one year to keep one person from controlling the people Also during this time a constitution was gradually developed that covered separation of powers & a system of checks and balances within the government. 133-30 B.C. As Rome was expanding rebellions & civil wars broke out across the republic causing a huge crisis of the Roman Republic.
Start Of Roman Emperors 48-44B.C. Julius Caesar, a General & statesman, was made dictator after defeating Pompey during the civil wars of the Roman Republic. 4 years later his friends Brutus & Cassius plotted a murdered him. 44-27B.C. Civil war broke out again. Octavian (nephew & adopted son of Julius Caesar) along with Mark Antony fought Brutus & Cassius & defeated them at Philippi in 42 BC. By 31 BC Mark Antony & Octavian were on opposite sides over control of Rome. Octavian & Rome defeated Mark Antony & Cleopatra s Armies & controlled all of the Roman Empire. 27B.C. Octavian was given the title of Augustus (consecrated / divine) by the Roman Senate and became emperor of Rome. 4B.C. Census of Quirinius is called by which Joseph & Mary travel to Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-7)
Birth Of Christ & Growth of Rome 4 B.C. Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. Joseph, Mary & Jesus fled to Egypt. Herod The Great tried to kill a male children 2 yrs and younger, but did not get Christ. Herod would die shortly after his birth. 1 AD 6 AD. The Roman Empire would expand it s boundaries to include Judea. 8 AD Joseph & Mary returned to Jerusalem for Passover with Jesus where we see Christ start the work of his Father while he was listening & asking questions to teachers in the temple. (Luke 2:41-50) 8 26 AD Over the next 18 years Jesus would grow & prepare to start his Ministry as a carpenter in Nazareth. 14 AD Augustus (Octavian) dies & is replaced by Tiberius, his adopted son as emperor. He ruled during the life of Christ. Like Augustus he took on acceptance of being treated and accepted as a god.
30AD This would be the last year of Jesus life. Christ would institute the Lord s supper with the apostles, be betrayed, face trials before the Sanhedrin & Pilate (Roman governor) & be crucified. After his resurrection he would direct his disciples to take the word unto the world & then ascended to GOD. Christ & His Ministry in the Roman Empire 27AD Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan in Judea & would go into the Wilderness to fast & be tested by Satan (Luke 3:21 4:13). After this Jesus would begin gathering his 12 disciples and start his ministry. 28AD Jesus would give his sermon on the Mount, teach the multitudes, cast out demons & heal Jairus daughter. John the Baptist would be arrested & imprisoned. 29AD Jesus continued his work with his disciples, but would reveal his death & resurrection. He would also perform many miracles from healing the lame, feeding the multitudes fishes & loaves & walking on water.
38-40 AD Saul & the apostles continue to preach & teach throughout Syria, Arabia, Judea & Greece. Apostles Work In The Roman Empire 27 AD The Roman concilia is formed by councils start requiring emperor worship in the area around Rome. 30-33 AD The Apostles add Mathias & begin to spread the good news of Jesus. They perform miracles, are arrested & imprisoned only to be released & the Church grows rapidly. (Acts 2 6) 34-35 AD Saul would start his persecution of the church, even being there when Stephen was stoned. However Christ would appear and blind him on the road to Damascus and in the end bring about his conversion. (Acts 7-9) 37 AD Tiberius dies (smothered by a Praetorian Guard) & Caligula becomes emperor. Caligula will become mentally unbalanced after an illness & insist on being treated as a god & treated cruelly anyone who got in his way.
49-52 AD Paul writes Galatians (49), I & II Thessalonians (51 & 52) and goes on his 2 nd missionary journey. Matthew writes his gospel account (50). Apostles Face Struggles In The Roman Empire 33-43 AD The Apostles establish churches in Jerusalem, Antioch, Corinth & throughout Judea. 41 AD Caligula is murdered by 2 Praetorian Guards to end his madness. Claudius becomes emperor only to be manipulated by his niece & wife, Agrippina, to adopt her son Nero. 44-48 AD While Paul & Barnabus work at Antioch, Peter & James are arrested, but Peter is released by an angel. James, the brother of John, would be ran through & beheaded by Herod Agrippa!. Herod Agrippa I would die in 44AD. James, the brother Jesus, would write the book of James. Paul & Barnabus would go on Paul s 1 st missionary journey. 49-50 AD Claudius orders the Jews depart from Rome according to Seutonius (Roman Historian) due to their rioting over the instigation of Chrestus (Christ). (Acts18:2)
59-62 AD Nero during his indulgence of his power had his mother, Agrippina murdered after she tried to control his life. He exiled his wife, Octavia (later having her put to death) & married Poppea (his friend, Otho s wife). Apostles Face Struggles In The Roman Empire 53-56 AD Paul begins his 3 rd missionary journey & stays 3 yrs in Ephesus. He writes 1 st & 2 nd Corinthians (55 & 56). Titus, Timothy & Luke help him with the works in Ephesus, Corinth & Macedonia. Philip is believed to have been tortured & crucified by the Jews upside down in Phrygia, Turkey (54). 54-55 AD Believed killed by Agrippina, Claudius dies. Nero becomes emperor at the age of 16. Fearful that the 14yr old younger step brother, Brittanicus, would protest the throne, it s rumored Nero poisoned him. 57-60 AD Paul writes Romans (57) to the church in Rome. Then is arrested & put in prison in Caesarea. Herod Agrippa II & Festus decide to send Paul to Rome, but ends up ship wrecked (59). Paul finally arrives in Rome in 60 AD & writes Ephesians. (Acts 21-28). Andrew was crucified on a X shaped cross in Achaea by the Roman governor (60).
Apostles Face Struggles In The Roman Empire 61-63 AD Paul writes Philippians (61), Colossians (62) & Philemon (62) while under house arrest in Rome. Paul was allowed to leave & He went to Macedonia where he wrote 1 st Timothy (62). Based on early Christian historians he then travelled to Spain. Luke writes his gospel & Acts of the Apostles in 62 AD. Peter comes to Rome & writes 1 st Peter (62). James, brother of Jesus, was stoned to death after being found guilty by rush judgment of the Sanhedrin 64-65 AD Rome burned in the great fire (64) destroying parts of the city & bringing financial devastation. Nero was believed to have started the fire, but he blamed the Christians & thus the start of 1 st Christian persecution. 64-67 AD Peter writes 2 nd Peter (64) & is crucified upside down saying he was unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as Christ. Paul travels to Crete & Corinth and writes Titus (64) & then goes to Macedonia & Asia. Mark writes his gospel (65).
Christian Persecution Begins In The Roman Empire 66-68 AD Nero would kill his wife during a fit of rage over his feeling of inferiority. Nero used Circus Maximus to make sport of Christians having then killed the arena before Roman citizens. He would have them attack by dogs, while dressed in animal skins. He nailed them to crosses, impaled them or had them burned. He even burned Christians as human torches as evening lights to his gardens. It s estimated 100,000 Christians died during this time. 66-68 AD Jews revolted against Rome in Judea & drove Roman Army out of Jerusalem. Rome in turn wage war against Judea. The Roman Army conquered Galilee & captured 37,000 Jews. The Essenes hide their scrolls in the caves near the Dead Sea. 67-68 AD Paul was arrested & taken to Rome where he writes 2 nd Timothy (67). Hebrews would be written in 68 AD. Paul was beheaded by Nero in 68AD.
Change In Emperors In The Roman Empire 68-69 AD Nero would cut his own throat with help of a servant after hearing the Senate ruled to have him killed once opposition gained popularity. Galba, the governor of Hispania, became emperor through benefit of the rebellion. He would rule only 6 mths before he would be murdered disgruntled members of Otho s cavalry. Otho would be made emperor by his men, but would only reign less than 4 months before taking his life after losing in Battle Vitellius s army who opposed his leadership. Vitellius would be next to be made emperor, but again his reign was short. Due to his immoral conduct & cruelty his own men rebelled against him, joined Vespasian & then killed him in less than 9 months. Vespasian would then become emperor after being capable general of the army. 68-69 AD John would write his gospel (68). Ignatius who knew Peter & Paul becomes the elder of the church of Antioch in Syria.
71-74 AD Vespasian & his son Titus parade through the streets of Rome with the plunder from Jerusalem. The gold & silver would be used to finance the building of the Roman Colosseum. The remaining Jewish rebels would go and hold up in Masada. By 74AD Masada had fallen & the revolt was put down. From 54AD to 74AD more than 1.5 million Jews were either killed or taken prisoner. Destruction Of Jerusalem By Rome 70 AD Vespasian s son Titus was given command of the Roman Legion and given command to put down the Jewish revolt. Titus attacked Jerusalem & after a 9 month siege took the city. His 10 th Legion destroyed the temple and sacked the city. According to Josephus, Rome took 50 tons of gold & silver from the city. 70-74 AD Many remaining Apostles were put to death during this time. Thomas is believed to have been tortured, ran through with spears & burned alive (c70). Matthias is believed to have been stoned & beheaded (c70). Bartholomew was martyred (c70). Judas Thaddeus was beaten to death by pagan priest in Mesopotamia (c72). Simon The Zealot was crucified by the Roman governor of Syria (c74).
Christian Persecution In The Roman Empire 79 AD Mt Vesuvius erupts and buries the city of Pompeii & Helrculaneum killing 16,000 people. 79-80 AD Vespasian dies of natural causes and his son Titus replaces him as emperor of Rome. Titus finishes the Colosseum and dedicates it to his father (80). 81 AD Titus dies while on the frontier, believed poisoned by his brother Domitian. Domitian would become the cruelest emperor since Nero & would persecute Christians just as severely. 82 84 AD Domitian in his rage he put to death some of the Roman senators, some through malice; and others to confiscate their estates. He then commanded all the lineage of David be put to death. 82-90 AD Domitian enforces imperial cult worship of former emperors & himself as gods. The concilia will enforce punishment through its councils which are now throughout all of the empire. Anyone charge with being a Christian & not willing to deny it would face the punishment or death.
90-96 AD Domitian executed Flavius Clemens, a Roman consul & his cousin and banished his wife, Flavia Domitilla to the island of Pandateria. Eusebius alleged that Flavia Domitilla was banished because she was a Christian. Another hardship was, that, when any Christians were brought before the magistrates, a test oath was proposed, when, if they refused to take it, death was pronounced against them; and if they confessed themselves Christians, the sentence was the same. 2 nd Persecution of Christians Begins 82 100 AD Silas, member of the Church in Antioch, travelling companion with Paul & 1 st elder at Corinth, died in Macedonia at the age of 50. John Mark, cousin & travelling companion of Barnabas & Paul, dies by being drugged through the streets by a mob. 84 AD Luke was martyred by being hung for preaching the gospel near Boeotia, Greece. 85 AD Polycarp becomes elder of the church in Smyrna. 85-90 AD John writes his 3 letters to the churches in Asia. Polycarp becomes the elder of the church in Smyrna (85). Clement who worked with Paul from 57-62 AD is made elder of the church in Rome (88).
Punishment Under Domitian 88 96 AD Domitian had a law issued that no Christian, once brought before the tribunal, should be exempted from punishment without renouncing his religion. Tales were fabricated during Domitian s reign anger Romans towards Christians by stating that attacks, famine, pestilence, or earthquakes in the empire were due to Christians. This increased the number of accusers & informers, for the sake of gain, swore away the lives of the innocent. Thus, Christians brought before the magistrates had to confess an oath to the emperor, if they refused to take it, death was pronounced against them; and if they confessed themselves Christians, the sentence was the same. 90-96 AD Among the numerous martyrs that suffered during this persecution was Simeon, elder of Jerusalem, who was crucified. John is exiled to Patmos after being boiled in oil. Papias is made elder of the church of Hierapolis in Asia. Nicodemus died in Rome. John receives the Revelation of God & writes it down (96).
Death of Domitian & the leaders of the Church 96 AD Domitian was assassinated by the steward of his niece, Domitilia. Nerva replaced Domitian as emperor. During his reign he released many of his prisoners. 96-98 AD John was released from exile and dies 2 yrs later of natural causes. 96-107 AD Titus, elder of the church on Crete, died at the age of 94 of natural causes in Gortyna on the Island of Crete. 97 AD Timothy, the disciple of Paul & elder of Ephesus, dies at the age of 80 after being beaten, drug through the streets & stoned after reproving a group of pagans for their idolatry who were about to celebrate a feast called Catagogion.. 98 AD Nerva dies of natural causes and Trajan replaces him as emperor of Rome. 99 101 AD Clement, disciple of Peter & elder of the church in Rome, was imprisoned and later bound to an anchor and thrown in the sea.
Reign Of Emperor Trajan 101 106 AD Trajan goes to war with Dacia and over 5 years would fight 5 major battles that in the end the Roman army would win but the army would suffer heavy losses. 107 AD Ignatius, student of John & elder of the church at Antioch, was travelling to Rome, was arrested & martyred by being fed to wild beast. 109 111 AD Pliny, governor of the province of Bithynia (in Anatolia) corresponds with emperor Trajan. Pliny reported he had executed those identified Christians who would not denounce Christ & worship the gods & the emperor. For those that were Roman citizens were sent to Rome for punishment. Pliny asked the emperor whether ceasing to be a Christian was enough to secure pardon for having been one. Trajan would respond that the problem could only be dealt with case by case. The authorities were not to seek Christians out, but people who were denounced and found guilty were to be punished unless, by worshipping the Roman gods, they proved they were not Christians and so obtained pardon.
Transition From Trajan To Hadrian 113 117 AD Trajan would wage successful campaigns against the Parthian Empire, but again with heavy losses. 115 117 AD Jewish 2 nd Rebellion (Kitos War) started in Egypt which Trajan had to send forces to put down. 117 AD Trajan dies of natural causes and Hadrian replaces him as emperor of Rome. Tacitus, Roman writer, writes his book Annals which gives the account of Nero butchery of Christians for the burning of Rome. 120 130 AD Hadrian responds to a request for advice from provincial governors about how to deal with Christians. Hadrian granted Christians more leniency by stating that merely being a Christian was not enough for action to be taken against them. They must also have committed some illegal act. In addition, "slanderous attacks" against Christians were not to be tolerated, meaning that anyone who brought an action against Christians but failed would face punishment themselves. 121 125 AD Hadrian travels to Northern Europe to deal with barbarians & starts construction of Hadrian s Wall.
Reign Of Emperors Hadrian & Antoninus 130 AD Hadrian decides to rebuild Jerusalem & make it a pagan city. The Jews become enraged. 131-135 AD 3 rd Jewish War Bar Kokhba Revolt takes place. Rome would have to once again put down a revolt. According to Eusebius, During the revolt, Christians are mass murdered by Jews. 138 AD Hadrian dies of natural causes and Antoninus Pius replaces him as emperor of Rome. 140-161 AD After a putting down rebellion Antoninus conquers Scotland; starts construction of the Antonine Wall and has to deal with multiple rebellions. 155 156 AD Polycarp, disciple of John, Christian historian & elder of the church at Smyrna died a martyr, bound and burned at the stake, then stabbed when the fire failed to touch him. The day of his death he was quoted as saying, "Eighty and six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong". 161 AD Antoninus Pius dies of natural causes and Marcus Aurelius replaces him as emperor of Rome.
God s Judgment Increases Under Aurelius 162 166 AD General Lucius Verus leads successful, but costly campaigns against the Parthian Empire. 165 180 AD The Antonine Plague is named after one of its possible victims, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, the Emperor of Rome. It is otherwise known as the plague of Galen. Galen was a Greek physician who documented the plague. Judging by his description, historians believe that the Antonine Plague was caused by smallpox or measles. We can call this plague a natural disaster because it was caused by a naturally occurring disease and it killed a significant number of people. The Antonine Plague is thought to have come from Roman soldiers returning from battle in the east. Over time, it spread throughout the Roman Empire and some of the tribes to the north. An estimated 5 million people were killed by the Antonine plague. During a second outbreak, a Roman historian named Dio Cassius wrote that 2,000 people were dying each day in Rome. That s roughly one quarter of those who were infected. 167 175 AD King Ballomar of the tribe of the Marcomanni would invade Dacia, defeat the Roman Army and invade Italy. Marcus Aurelius would finally drive Marcomanni out.
180 AD Marcus Aurelius dies, rumored killed by his son, Commodus. Commodus will ending the period of the 5 good emperors & starting the 3 rd persecution of Christians. Reign Of Marcus Aurelius & The 3 rd Persecution 177 AD The Persecution in Lyon, France (Lugdunum, Roman Gaul) takes place. According to Eusebius, Christians had been forbidden from public places & if they were seen out they were met by mob violence including assaults, robberies and stonings. Finally the Christians were imprisoned and tried by the governor. Many of those found guilty were tortured & executed, but there were some who recanted Christ only to return to Christ later. 178-180 AD The Roman Army again has to handle barbarian attacks by the Germanic tribe (the Quadi) costing the army heavy losses again. 178 179 AD Christian Justin Martyr & 5 of his brethren are brought to Rome & tried by prefect Rusticus. After refusing to deny Christ all 6 were taken & beheaded.
4 th Persecution Under Commodus 180 AD During the early reign of Commodus, a group of Christian men from Scili - a place in that part of Numidia, (Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Donata, Secunda and Vestia) were placed on trial, questioned & judged by Saturninus, proconsular of Africa. According to the written account of the Acts of the Scillitan. 185 AD During persecution under Commodus acts of desperation by Christians begin. It was recorded that the proconsul of Asia, Arrius Antoninus, was approached by a group of Christians demanding to be executed. The proconsul obliged some of them and then sent the rest away, saying that if they wanted to kill themselves there was plenty of rope available or cliffs they could jump off. 192 193 AD Commodus is murdered. Publius Pertinax becomes emperor, but is slain in a year. After his death the Praetorian Guard sells the throne to Didius Julianus & then at the later part of the year sell it again to Septimus Severus. Severus would become emperor & put to death Pertinax murders & disband the Praetorian Guard. 193 194 AD Severus battles & defeats his eastern rival Pescennius Niger, Roman governor of Syria & captures Byzantium.
5 th Persecution Under Emperor Severus 193 211 AD Persecutions of Christians once again occurred throughout the Roman empire during the reign of Septimius Severus. Early church historian Eusebius, describes Severus as a persecutor, noting the martyrs of Madaura, Perpetua & Felicity in the Roman province of Africa. Severus is known for his decree he is said to have issued forbidding conversions to Judaism and Christianity. Christian apologist Tertullian did however state that Severus was well disposed towards Christians, employing a Christian as his personal physician and had personally intervened to save several high-born Christians. 197 AD Tertullian, early Christian historian from Carthage, Africa, writes Apologeticus which describes how Christians were being made scape goats for all types of natural disaster. He writes that those non- Christians said Christians are the cause of every public disaster, of every affliction with which the people are visited. If the Tiber rises as high as the city walls, if the Nile does not send its waters up over the fields, if the heavens give no rain, if there is an earthquake, if there is famine or pestilence, straightway the cry is, "Away with the Christians to the lion!
Evil Unfolds For The Emperorship 197 AD Severus battles & defeats his rival challenging for the throne, Roman General Clodius Albinus, at Lugdunum, France, securing full control over the Empire. 198 AD Severus invades Parthia. 208 211 AD Severus campaigns against the Caledonians. 211 AD Severus dies. His sons Caracalla & Geta become joint emperors. 212 AD Caracalla has Geta murdered. 213 217 AD Caracalla would wage costly military campaigns against the Alamanni and into Gaul & Parthia. 217 AD Caracalla is assassinated by Marcus Macrinus, who would in turn become emperor. 217 AD Macrinus fights a bloody stalemate between the Roman Army & the Parthians. 218 AD Macrinus is deposed and executed after being defeated Varius Avitus who would claim the throne under the name Elagabalus.
Evil Unfolds For The Emperorship 222 AD Elagabalus is murdered & Alexander Severus becomes emperor 231 233 AD Alexander Severus wages a costly war against Persia. 235 AD Alexander is killed in a soldier mutiny formulated by Maximinus Verus Thrax, who would become the next emperor. 235 238 AD The first documentable Empire-wide persecution takes place by the concilia under Maximinus Thrax, which sought out the leaders of the church to kill them. 238 AD Year of 6 Emperors. the Senate supports a revolt of Gordian I & Gordian II in Africa. These two are defeated by an ally of Thrax, and the Senate appoints Balbinus & Pupienus as co-emperors. They are soon assassinated, and Maximinus Thrax is killed in a mutiny. Troops loyal to the former emperor Thrax defeat and kill his successor Gordian II. The young Gordian III becomes emperor.
6 th Major Persecution Of Christians 241 243AD The Roman Army under Gordian III fights a costly war with the Persians. 244 AD Romans are defeated at Misiche & Philip the Arab becomes emperor. 249 AD Decius usurps the throne with support from the Danubian legions. He names his son Herennius coemperor. 249 251AD Under Decius persecution of Christians takes place across the entire Empire. A decree was issued requiring public sacrifice, a formality equivalent to a testimonial of allegiance to the Emperor and the established order. Decius authorized the concilia to visit cities and villages to supervise the execution of the sacrifices and to deliver written certificates to all citizens who performed them. Christians were often given opportunities to avoid further punishment by publicly offering sacrifices or burning incense to Roman gods, and were accused by the Romans of impiety when they refused. Refusal was punished by arrest, imprisonment, torture, and executions. Christians fled to safe havens in the countryside and some purchased their certificates, called libelli.
253 AD Aemilianus becomes emperor after leading a revolt and Gallus and Volusianus are slain by their own troops. Valerian and his son Gallienus become emperors after Aemilianus is killed by his own soldiers. King Shapur captures Antioch. Judgment On Rome & 7 th Major Christian Persecution 250 AD The libelli were documents were being used & notarized by Roman authorities to certify that someone has offered sacrifice to their idols during the persecution of Decius. In times of persecution these documents were accepted as proof that someone was not a Christian. Many of these libelli have been discovered in excavations in Egypt. 250-251 AD Goths defeat the Roman Army multiple times and King Cniva, king of the Goths kill the Roman Emperors Decius & Herennius. Another son of Decius, Hostilian is briefly emperor, but dies in a plague outbreak. Gallus & his son Volusianus become emperors. 252 AD King Shapur I of Persia defeats the Romans at Barbalissos.
259 260 AD Emperor Gallienus defeats the Alamanni that invaded Italy, but King Shapur I of Persia defeat & capture Emperor Valerian, who will die in bondage during their retreat.. 8 th Major Persecution Of Christians 257-258 AD Valerian retakes Antioch. The Franks invade Gaul & Hispania while the Germanic tribe Alamanni invade Italy & the Goths of Asia Minor. The Romans are at war on all fronts and the cost to the Roman Army is devastating. 257 AD Valerian sends orders to the Senate for the concilia to enforce all Christians perform sacrifices to the Roman gods and forbade Christians from holding meetings in cemeteries. 258 AD Valerian sends a 2 nd letter to the Senate for the concilia that orders that elders & high ranking church officials were to be put to death. Senators and knights who were Christians were to be stripped of their titles and lose their property and if they would not perform sacrifices to the gods they also were to be executed. Roman leaders who would not enforce these laws were to lose their property & be banished, while civil servants and members of the Emperor's staff and household who refused to sacrifice would be reduced to slavery and sent to work on the Imperial estates.
War Begins To Wear On Rome 260 262 AD Postmus would be proclaimed emperor in Gaul. He is also supported in Hispania and Britain. Emperor Gallienus issued a law of tolerance towards Christians that would last until Aurelian. 268 AD Emperor Gallienus & his generals, Claudius II & Aurelian, would defeat the Goths their invasion, but is later assassinated. Claudius II becomes emperor & will battle & defeat Germanic tribe (Alamanni). 269 270 AD Postumus is killed (269) & Victorinus proclaimed emperor in Gaul and Britain. During an outbreak of plague Claudius II would die (270) and for a brief period his brother Quintillus would rule. Aurelian would then become emperor. During these years the Romans & its allies would fight costly battles against Egyptians, Syrians & Goths 271 274 AD War would wear on Emperor Aurelian & his army. They army would be invaded & defeated by the Alamanni. Aurelian would battle them multiple times to finally drive them out of Italy & defeat them. Aurelian would have to battle the Vandals, Juthungi & Sarmatians (271) & then deal with revolts by Dacians, Palmyrenes & Gallics all which cost his army greatly.
9 th Major Persecution Of Christians 271 AD Victorinus, emperor of Gaul & Britain, is murdered and his soldiers proclaim Tetricus I emperor. 271 275 AD The 9 th persecution of Christians begins under Aurelian. The 2 notable martyrs during this time were Felix the elder of the church at Rome who was beheaded (274) & Agapetus a benevolent Christian who was helping the poor was found guilty by the concilia & beheaded. 275 279 AD Emperors changes & wars would wear down Rome again. Aurelian is murdered. Tacitus becomes emperor & dies within the year. Florianus would reign a few months & then be assassinated. Probus becomes emperor. The Roman Army would have to battle the Burgundians, Longiones, Alemanni, Franks & Vandals. Rome is victorious but again suffer heavy losses. 282 285 AD After Probus is killed by his own troops, Carus is proclaimed emperor, but would die during an invasion of Persia killed in a thunder storm (283). His sons Carinus & Numerian would be made emperors. Numerian would die (284). During this period under these emperors the Church would have peace.
10 th Major Persecution Of Christian Begins 285 AD Diocletian would be proclaimed emperor & march against Carinus, killing him & defeating his army (285). Diocletian splits the empire in half & appoints Maximian emperor of the Western portion while he rules the East. In the early years of his reign he was very tolerable of Christians. 286 296 AD Diocletian had to deal with revolts of his military leaders & attacks on the empire, so in 293 he appointed Constantius I & Galerius Caesars (Imperial dictators). 296 299 AD The Roman army under Galerius & Constantius Chlorus would battle Persians, the Alamanni, Sarmatians & the Capri. The combined wars would cost the army 15,000 to 30,000 men. 303 AD Diocletian starts the Great Persecution of Christians at the pressure of his pagan mother & Galerius. Governors were given direct laws of enforcement against Christians from the emperor. Christian churches and texts were to be destroyed, meeting for Christian worship was forbidden & those Christians who refused to recant lost their legal rights.
Christian Persecution & Rise Of Constantine 304 313 AD Diocletian orders that Christian elders & leaders be arrested and that all inhabitants of the empire sacrifice to the gods. Governors & the concilia could punish Christians as they felt. Lactantius reported that some governors claimed to have shed no Christian blood & only enforced it when absolutely necessary. Eusebius was an eyewitness to many martyrdoms in Caesarea during the persecution commenced by Diocletian wrote about this, the punishment of brethren in the army, deaths of Christians and the pursuit by the concilia to level churches, burn the scriptures & kill it s leaders. Over 20,000 Christians are thought to have died during Diocletian's reign. 305 311 AD Civil war breaks out the empire again. Coemperors Diocletian & Maximian step down as emperors. Constantius & Galerius are given the titles Augustus. Maximinus is appointed Caesar in the east and Severus in the west. Constantius dies at York (306) & his son Constantine I is proclaimed emperor. Maxentius, son of Maximian, proclaims himself emperor in Rome & tries to reinstate his father. Severus is put to death. Galerius lays siege to Rome. Licinius would be appointed Caesar in the east. Galerius would die & Maximinus & Licinius would split his realm between them.
The Reign Of Constantine 312 AD Emperor Constantine was exposed to Christianity by his mother, Helena, but he was over 42 when he finally declared himself a Christian. At the Battle of Milvian Bridge, according to sources, Constantine looked up to the sun before the battle and saw a cross of light above it, and with it the Greek words "Ἐν Τούτῳ Νίκα" (~in this sign you shall conquer!). Constantine commanded his troops to adorn their shields with a Christian symbol (the Chi- Rho). After he did, Constantine & his army was victorious over Maxentius. Constantine would take control of Italy, kill Maxentius & claim emperorship in the West. Shortly thereafter Constantine would convert to Christianity. 313 318AD Licinius defeats Maximinus forces in the east & Maximinus dies. Constantine issues the Edict of Milan, ending persecution of Christians and establishing religious toleration throughout the Empire. This toleration would last throughout Constantine s reign. Constantine would defeat Licinius & take all his provinces.
The Reign Of Constantine 321 325 AD Constantine's reformed laws based on his Christian beliefs. Crucifixion was abolished for reasons of Christian piety, but was replaced with hanging, to demonstrate the preservation of Roman supremacy. Sunday was declared the official day of rest, on which markets were banned and public offices were closed, except for the purpose of freeing slaves. Prisoner were no longer to be kept in total darkness but must be given the outdoors and daylight; a condemned man was allowed to die in the arena, but he could not be branded on his "heavenly beautified" face, since God was supposed to have made man in his image, but only on the feet. Publicly displayed Gladiatorial games were ordered to be eliminated. 324-337AD Constantine would battle Licinius s forces for 2 years and finally defeat him taking full control over the empire. He would make Constantinople the capital in the east & battle back the Goths (332) & the Sarmatians (334). Constantine was torn between the Trinity belief & the Arian belief that Christ was a created being. He would recommend the need for a Christian emperor & before he died would be baptized.
Constantine Dies & The Empire Goes Into Decline 337 361 AD Constantine s 3 sons, Constantine II, Constantius II & Constans become emperors. Constantine II would turn on his brothers & be defeated & killed by his brothers. Constans & Constantius II issue a ban against pagan sacrifice and following Arian Christianity. Constans would be killed during Roman Caesar Magnentius rebellion & Constantius dies of illness, naming Julian his successor. Julian openly declares himself a pagan, but his attempt at rejuvenating paganism in the empire fails. During this period the empire is in full decline. 363 364 AD Emperor Julian invades Persia & in the process of taking the capital would be mortally wounded during a skirmish and dies. His death leads to an ultimate disaster for the Roman army during their retreat. The Roman empire would never again be on the offensive. Jovian becomes emperor & dies accidentally. Valentinian I becomes emperor & splits the empire with his brother Valens.
Downfall of Rome & Reign Of Theodosius 365 AD A magnitude 8 or greater earthquake occurred under the Mediterranean Sea centered near Crete. It destroyed nearly all of the towns on Crete & caused damage in areas of Greece, Libya, Cyprus and Sicily. After the earthquake, a tsunami caused significant damage in Alexandria, Egypt caring ships as far as two miles inland. It is estimated that thousands of people were killed. 366 378AD Civil wars & battles with the Alamanni & the Goths lead to changes in emperors & major defeats costing the army over 50,000 men. Western emperor Valentinian dies and is succeeded by Gratianus. Eastern emperor Valens dies & Theodosius I succeeds him. 380 388 AD Theodosius I issues The Edict of Thessalonica making Christianity the State church of the Roman Empire. 389 392AD Theodosius I issued decrees instituting a major change in his religious policies. He removed non- Nicene Christians from church office & abolished the last remaining expressions of Roman religion by making its holidays into workdays, banned blood sacrifices, closed Roman temples, disbanded the Vestal Virgins & punished practices of witchcraft.
Theodosius Dies & The Empire Falls 380 395 AD Theodosius I decrees would lead to the beginning of the Catholic church & the group that enforced Roman pagan sacrifice would now enforce Catholicism. 395 AD Theodosius I dies, leaving the Western empire to his son Honorius & the Eastern empire to his son Arcadius. 400 800 AD Multiple famines & plagues hit the Roman Empire over this time. The population of the city of Rome falls by over 90%. 410 AD Sack of Rome - Visgoths under King Alaric sack Rome & overtake the city after three attempts then spend 3 days looting it. 443 452 AD Attila the Hun attacks the Roman Empire, plunders Italy & drives all the way to Rome. Pope Leo I negotiated peace. 451 452 AD A great famine strikes all of Italy which affected both Rome s ability to fight and Attila s desire to continue his invasion.
Downfall of Rome Empire 455 AD Sack of Rome - Pope Leo I pleads with Genseric, King of the Vandals, to not destroy the city or kill all the people. The King agrees and Rome's gates are open to him and his men to loot it as they see fit. For fourteen days, they rob the city of its riches and destroy many objects of cultural significance. Their deliberate destruction of such treasures is where we get the English word VANDALism. 476 AD Western part of the Roman Empire falls. After this the fall of Rome was nearly complete. By the mid 6 th century the Roman Empire size was cut in half & control of Europe was almost gone & the Empire coming to an end. The eastern part of the Empire would become part of the Byzantine Empire. 541 542 AD Plague of Justinian starts & afflicts the Eastern Roman Empire & its capital Constantinople. Believed to be the bubonic plague, it was worldwide in scope & would return each generation throughout the Mediterranean. The plague took 40 to 100 million from 540 to 720AD.