Decius (Roman emperor)

Gaius Messius Quintus Decius was Roman emperor from 249 to 251. His reign brought an empire-wide requirement to sacrifice to the Roman gods, which led to the persecution of Christians who refused.

Edict of Decius: A Roman order in 250 requiring inhabitants to sacrifice to the gods and obtain certificates recording compliance. The edict made ritual sacrifice a test of loyalty during Decius’s reign.
Decian persecution: The persecution of Christians associated with the sacrifice requirement imposed under Decius around 250. It was the most consequential religious crisis of his short reign.
Philip the Arab: Roman emperor from 244 to 249, overthrown after Decius’s troops proclaimed their commander emperor. Decius’s rise ended Philip’s rule after a military revolt.
Battle of Abritus: A battle in 251 in which Gothic forces defeated and killed Decius and his son Herennius Etruscus. Decius died during this disastrous campaign against Gothic forces.
Libellus: A written certificate issued in Roman Egypt to document completion of an official act or obligation. These certificates recorded sacrifices made under Decius’s order.
Lapsi: Christians who renounced or compromised their faith during persecution, especially by sacrificing or obtaining certificates. Decius’s order created a large group whose return to the church became contentious.
Battle of Verona (249): A battle in northern Italy in which Decius defeated and killed Emperor Philip in 249. The victory secured Decius’s accession to the imperial throne.
Goths: A group of Germanic peoples who raided and fought the Roman Empire, especially along its Danubian frontier. Gothic incursions drew Decius into the campaign that ended his reign.
Roman imperial cult: Public rituals honoring Roman emperors and the imperial power they embodied. Decius’s sacrifices reinforced traditional public religion and imperial unity.
Cyprian of Carthage: A third-century bishop and Christian writer who led the church of Carthage during persecution. His leadership and writings addressed the crisis caused by Decius’s policy.

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