the law were so generally disregarded that
the government abandoned the attempt to carry them into effect.

*Persecution of the Christians, 302 A. D.* Equally unsuccessful were his
measures for the suppression of Christianity. For nearly half a century
following Valerian's persecution the Christians had enjoyed immunity from
repressive legislation. They had continued to increase rapidly in numbers
and it has been estimated that at this time perhaps two-fifths of the
population of the empire were adherents of the Christian faith. The reason
for the revival of persecution by Diocletian is uncertain, although it may
possibly have been at the instigation of Galerius, who displayed the
greatest zeal in carrying it into effect. In 302 Diocletian issued three
edicts, ordering the confiscation of church property, the dismissal of
Christians from civil offices, the abrogation of their judicial rights,
the enslavement of Christians of plebeian status, the arrest and
imprisonment of the heads of the church, and heavy penalties for those who
refused to offer sacrifice to the state gods, while granting liberty to
all who did so. In 304, a fourth edict ordered all citizens without
exception to make public sacrifice and libation to the gods. The degree to
which these edicts were enforced varied in the different parts of the
empire. The most energetic persecutors were Maximian and Galerius, while
in Gaul Constantius made little or no effort to molest the Christians. The
persecution lasted with interruptions till 313 A. D. Many leading
Christians met a martyr's death, but the church emerged from the ordeal
more strongly organized and aggressive than before. Its victory made it a
political force of supreme importance.

*Abdication, 305 A. D.* On 1 May, 305 A. D., Diocletian and Maximian,
after a joint rule of twenty years, formally abdicated their authority and
retired into private life. Diocletian withdrew to his palace near Salona
in Dalmatia, and Maximian, much against his will, to an estate in Lucania.
Galerius and Constantius succeeded them as Augusti.

II. CONSTANTINE I, THE GREAT: 306-337 A. D.

*Constantine Caesar, 306 A. D.* Diocletian's plan for securing an orderly
succession of rulers for the empire had neglected to take into account
individual ambitions and the strength of dynastic loyalty among the
soldiers. Its failure was forecast in the appointment of the new Caesars.
Galerius, who was the more infl