us is treacherously murdered by Allectus, who assumes the
government of Britain.

296. Athanasius, the "Father of Orthodoxy," born.*

297. Achillius having revolted in Egypt, Diocletian in person suppresses
the insurrection; Alexandria is captured and the inhabitants
slaughtered.

298. Rome makes a victorious peace with Persia; extension of the Roman
Empire.

300. From this date paganism declines. See "CONVERSION OF CONSTANTINE,"
iii, 289.

303. Diocletian persecutes the Christians; the fiercest and most
systematic persecution which they had yet suffered.

304. Severe illness of Diocletian, imputed to his long journey in the
winter, but attributable rather to his vexation at the disorders caused
by his change of policy toward the Christians, and to his finding it
impossible to extirpate their religion. See "CONVERSION OF CONSTANTINE,"
iii, 289.

305. The dilemma in which Diocletian is placed by the rash counsels of
Galerius determines him to abdicate. He resigns the purple at Nicomedia,
and persuades Maximian to follow his example on the same day at Milan.
Constantius and Galerius take the title of augustus, and that of caesar
is given to Severus and Maximian.

306. Death of Constantius Chlorus; Constantine the Great, his son, is
made caesar; Severus becomes augustus; Maxentius, son of Maximian,
assumes the purple. Maximian resumes the rank of augustus. Civil war
begins between Constantine and his rivals. The Salian Franks are
defeated by Constantine.

307. Licinius is made augustus on the fall of Severus.

308. There are five emperors actually ruling in the Roman Empire, with
Maximian, as a sixth, holding nominal power in the court of his
son-in-law, Constantine.

310. Maximian is slain by order of Constantine.

311. Galerius issues an order to stop the persecution of the Christians;
his death occurs soon afterward.

312. Constantine vanquishes Maxentius in Italy, and becomes sole ruler
of the Western Roman Empire. See "CONVERSION OF CONSTANTINE," iii, 289.

313. Constantine and Licinius proclaim toleration for the Christians.

Maximian is overthrown by Licinius, who unites the Roman Empire of the
East under his rule.

314. Constantine and Licinius have their first war; the latter is
vanquished. See "CONVERSION OF CONSTANTINE," iii, 289.

315. Constantine issues an edict against infanticide; another edict
condemns to be burned alive any Jews who persecute or ill-treat converts
from their sect to