Persecution of pagans in the late Roman Empire
The persecution of pagans in the late Roman Empire began late during the reign of Constantine the Great, when he ordered the pillaging and the tearing down of some temples. The first anti-Pagan laws by the Christian state started with Constantine's son Constantius II, who was an unwavering opponent of paganism; he ordered the closing of all pagan temples, forbade Pagan sacrifices under pain of death, and removed the traditional Altar of Victory from the Senate. Under his reign ordinary Christians started vandalizing many of the ancient Pagan temples, tombs and monuments.
From 361 till 375, Paganism was relatively tolerated, until three Emperors, Gratian, Valentinian II and Theodosius I, under Bishop of Milan Saint Ambrose's influence, reinstituted and escalated the persecution. Under pressure from the zealous Ambrose, Theodosius issued the infamous 391 "Theodosian decrees," a declaration of war on paganism, the Altar of Victory was removed again by Gratian, the Vestal Virgins were disbanded, and access to Pagan temples was prohibited.
- 1 Constantine I turns against Paganism
- 2 Beginning of anti-Pagan laws
- 3 Restoration and tolerance from Julian till Valens (361-375)
- 4 Saint Ambrose's influence
- 5 Persecution after Theodosius I till the Empire fall
- 6 After the Fall of the Roman Empire
- 7 Evaluation and legacy
- 8 See also
- 9 Notes and references
Constantine I turns against Paganism
The first episodes of persecution of Paganism in the history of the Roman Empire started late in the reign of Constantine the Great, with his orders for the pillaging and tearing down of pagan temples;  earlier on his reign he had prohibited the construction of new temples but tolerated the practice of Pagan sacrifices.
Beginning of anti-Pagan laws
The actions of Constantius II, who reigned from 337 till 361, marked the beginning of the era of formal persecution against Paganism by the Christian Roman Empire, with the emanation of laws and edicts which punished Pagan practices.
From the 350s, new laws prescribed the death penalty for those who perform or attended Pagan sacrifices, and for the worshiping of"idols"; temples were shut down, and the traditional Altar of Victory was removed from the Senate. There were also frequent episodes of ordinary Christians destroying, pillaging, desecrating, vandalizing many of the ancient Pagan temples, tombs and monuments.
The harsh imperial edicts had to face the vast following of paganism among the population, and the passive resistance of governors and magistrates. The anti-Pagan legislation, beginning with Constantius, would in time have an unfavourable influence on the Middle Ages and become the basis of the much-abused Inquisition.
Restoration and tolerance from Julian till Valens (361-375)
Under the sole rule of Julian the Apostate from 361-363, Paganism saw an attempt at restoration; while from 363 till 375, during the reigns of Jovian, Valens and Valentinian I, it was relatively tolerated.
Saint Ambrose's influence
Saint Ambrose lobbying against paganism
Under the influence of Ambrose, emperors Gratian, Valentinian II and Theodosius I carried on a persecution of Paganism. Under Ambrose's zealous pressure, Theodosius issued the infamous 391 "Theodosian decrees," a declaration of war on paganism, and the Altar of Victory was removed by Gratian. Ambrose, Gratian, Valentinian and Theodosius rejected requests to restore the Altar.
Gratian: Seizing of Pagans' wealth and privileges
Gratian, under the influence of his chief advisor the Bishop of Milan Ambrose, took active steps to repress Pagan worship. In 382, Gratian appropriated the income of the Pagan priests and Vestal Virgins, confiscated the possessions of the priestly colleges and ordered the Altar of Victory removed again. The colleges of Pagan priests also lost all their privileges and immunities. Gratian declared that all of the Pagan temples and shrines were to be confiscated by the government and that their revenues were to be joined to the property of the royal treasury.
In 388 Valenti