#emperor decius

[thepastisalreadywritten]

[dogstardigitalindex]

Title: Did Emperor Decius Target Christians? Channel: ReligionForBreakfast (Dr. Andrew Henry) Length: 7:23

Introduces Christian life in the Roman Empire, describes Emperor Decius declaring that all citizens must make sacrifices to the gods. Some Christians undoubtedly refused, and they were likely punished, but ultimately this appears to have been more about genuinely appeasing the Roman gods and not a way to indirectly target Christians.

[katarhema]

Day 32: Decius

Although Decius gets a special crisis mention for being the first Roman emperor to die in battle against a non-Roman enemy, he's also notable for being neither a soldier emperor or, really, an uppity provincial governor. 

Decius was given the authority he was by Philip because he was legitimately the best man for the job. It's not Decius's fault that his legions were hungry for a new emperor and had this time been given someone competent to lead them. And for those wondering how a governor could ever be beholden to the attitudes of his troops, just imagine a scene where a few lieutenants visit said governor is his office and tell him that they've decided to name him as their new emperor, and oh by the way, they've sent a messenger off to Rome with the news. Decius could have refused, perhaps, but that probably would have led to his own death at the hands of an angry army. 

In any event, Decius did a decent job for a couple of years. He dealt with a few more would-be usurpers from the provinces, and fought a couple of wars, but my favorite thing about Decius is that he died in battle against the Goths, and there's a joke in there somewhere, I know it.