The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Adauctus the Finance Minister
d. c. AD 303–305 (martyr) · Imperial finance official (magister rei privatae) · Martyr · Italy
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Adauctus the Finance Minister was
An Italian noble who climbed the imperial service to the general administration of the treasury — and 'was distinguished for deeds of piety while holding office,' until the persecution required a choice between the accounts and the confession. He is the highest-ranking civil martyr Eusebius names.
Also listed in martyrs and the great persecution.
Common questions
When did Adauctus die?
Adauctus the Finance Minister is dated d. c. AD 303–305 (martyr) in the archive, which places Adauctus in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Adauctus?
Adauctus the Finance Minister is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Eusebius of Caesarea and Damasus of Rome. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Adauctus from?
The archive associates Adauctus the Finance Minister with Italy.
Who were Adauctus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Adauctus the Finance Minister to 2 other figures, including Emperor Diocletian and Verus the Presbyter. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History VIII.11
c. AD 325Adauctus, of a noble Italian family, advanced through every honour under the emperors, so that he blamelessly filled the general offices of what they call the magistracy and ministry of finance — and while yet in office was adorned with the crown of martyrdom, enduring the conflict for religion.Eusebius of Caesarea · VIII.11 · source text
The Damasan epigram Ferrua 7, catacomb of Commodilla — for Felix and Adauctus, cut by Furius Dionysius Filocalus
c. AD 375[Damasus set a verse epitaph at this tomb; the epigram is an epigraphic attestation additional to the literary record.]Damasus of Rome · Damasan epigram, Ferrua 7, catacomb of Commodilla — for Felix and Adauctus · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 235 · Maximinus Thrax targets the clergy, AD 235
- AD 250 · The Decian persecution, AD 250
- AD 251 · The Novatianist schism, AD 251
- AD 257 · The Valerian persecution, AD 257
- AD 260 · Gallienus’ edict of toleration, AD 260
- AD 268 · Antioch deposes Paul of Samosata, AD 268
- AD 272 · Aurelian awards the Antioch church, AD 272
- AD 301 · Hripsime and her company, AD 301
- AD 303 · The Great Persecution begins, AD 303
- AD 303 · The search of the church at Cirta, AD 303
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Adauctus.
- 1Italyprovince only