The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313 · External witness
Emperor Valerian
d. after AD 260 (captive in Persia) · Roman Emperor (253–260) · Persecutor · Rome → captivity in Persia
External witness
Who Emperor Valerian was
Emperor who, after a tolerant beginning, issued in 257–258 two rescripts of savage precision: the first exiled clergy and forbade assembly; the second ordered bishops, priests, and deacons executed at once, and stripped Christian senators and knights of rank and property. It killed Cyprian of Carthage, Sixtus II of Rome and his deacons including Lawrence, and Fructuosus of Tarragona — striking deliberately at leadership and the upper classes. Valerian’s reign ended in unique humiliation: captured by the Persian king Shapur at Edessa in 260, he died a prisoner, and Christian writers read his fate as divine judgment. His son Gallienus at once restored peace.
Also listed in non-christian witnesses and roman emperors.
Common questions
When did Emperor Valerian die?
Emperor Valerian is dated d. after AD 260 (captive in Persia) in the archive, which places Emperor Valerian in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).
What did Emperor Valerian write?
Emperor Valerian has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: The rescripts of 257–258 (as reported in Cyprian's last letters).
Which early sources mention Emperor Valerian?
Emperor Valerian is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Dionysius of Alexandria, via Eusebius, Cyprian of Carthage and Lactantius. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Emperor Valerian from?
The archive associates Emperor Valerian with Rome, captivity in Persia. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Writings (1)
The rescripts of 257–258 (as reported in Cyprian's last letters)
AD 257–258Valerian had sent a rescript to the Senate, to the effect that bishops, presbyters and deacons should immediately be punished.Read the interlinear source text →
Primary-source mentions (3)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History VII.10
c. AD 255Valerian… was persuaded by the master and ruler of the Egyptian magi to put to death the pure and holy men, as adversaries and hindrances to his abominable enchantments.Dionysius of Alexandria, via Eusebius · VII.10 · source text
Epistle 80 (Cyprian reports the rescript from Rome)
c. AD 258Valerian had sent a rescript to the Senate, to the effect that bishops and presbyters and deacons should immediately be punished.Cyprian of Carthage · Epistle 80 · source text
On the Deaths of the Persecutors 5 (the captive emperor, and the skin in the Persian temple)
c. AD 315He was flayed, and his skin, stripped from the flesh, was dyed with vermilion, and placed in the temple of the gods of the barbarians.Lactantius · On the Deaths 5 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
- Cyprian of Carthage
- Xystus II (Sixtus II) of Rome
- Lawrence (Laurentius) of Rome
- Fructuosus of Tarragona
- Emperor Gallienus
- Emperor Decius
- Augurius of Tarragona
- Eulogius of Tarragona
Events in this lifetime
- AD 190 · The Quartodeciman controversy, AD 190
- 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
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Emperor Valerian.
- 1Rome