The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313 · External witness
Emperor Gallienus
d. AD 268 · Roman Emperor (253–268) · Author of the first toleration · Rome
External witness
Who Emperor Gallienus was
Son and successor of the captured Valerian, who reversed his father’s policy at once, issuing in 260 the first imperial rescript to grant Christians legal toleration and the restoration of their churches and cemeteries — the beginning of the “little peace of the church,” some forty years of freedom that lasted until Diocletian. Eusebius preserves his edict addressed to the bishops, restoring “the places of worship.” Not a convert, but the ruler under whom the church first held property by imperial right and grew into the open. To Christian memory, the emperor who let the church breathe.
Also listed in non-christian witnesses and roman emperors.
Common questions
When did Emperor Gallienus die?
Emperor Gallienus is dated d. AD 268 in the archive, which places Emperor Gallienus in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).
What did Emperor Gallienus write?
Emperor Gallienus has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: Rescript of toleration (preserved by Eusebius).
Which early sources mention Emperor Gallienus?
Emperor Gallienus is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Gallienus (rescript), via Eusebius and Dionysius of Alexandria. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Emperor Gallienus from?
The archive associates Emperor Gallienus with Rome.
Writings (1)
Rescript of toleration (preserved by Eusebius)
AD 260–261I have ordered the bounty of my gift to be declared through all the world, that they may depart from the places of religious worship; and for this purpose you may use this copy of my rescript.Read the interlinear source text →
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History VII.13
c. AD 260I have ordered the bounty of my gift to be declared through all the world, that the places of worship may be restored to you… And this my rescript you may use as a warrant, that none may molest you.Gallienus (rescript), via Eusebius · VII.13 · source text
Dionysius of Alexandria, via Ecclesiastical History VII.23 (the peace of Gallienus greeted)
c. AD 262Connected in the archive
People
Named alongside Emperor Gallienus in the sources
This figure is placed with Emperor Gallienus by the record — in a council roll, a martyr-act, a letter or a history — without Emperor Gallienus naming them in return.
Events in this lifetime
- AD 202 · Perpetua and Felicity martyred, AD 202
- 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
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Emperor Gallienus.
- 1Rome