| Edict Number | Date Issued | Key Provisions | Enforcement Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | February 24, 303ad | Ordered the destruction of Christian churches and scriptures; prohibited Christian assemblies for worship; stripped Christians of legal rights, honors, and ranks (e.g., senators, soldiers, and freedmen lost status); allowed judicial torture but initially requested no bloodshed. | Issued by Diocletian in Nicomedia; enforcement varied by region, harsher in the East under Diocletian and Galerius. |
| Second | Late Spring/Summer 303ad | Commanded the arrest and imprisonment of all Christian clergy (bishops and priests); aimed to coerce them into sacrificing to Roman gods. | Led to widespread imprisonment; enforcement more intense after initial resistance to the first edict. |
| Third | November/December 303ad | Granted amnesty to imprisoned clergy if they offered sacrifice to the gods; those who refused faced torture and potential death. | Issued in anticipation of Diocletian’s 20th anniversary; intended to fracture Christian leadership by encouraging apostasy. |
| Fourth | Spring 304ad | Required all citizens (men, women, and children) to gather in public spaces and offer sacrifices to Roman gods; refusal resulted in execution. | Most severe measure; enforcement strongest in the East under Galerius; led to increased martyrdoms but also widespread apostasy and hiding. |
The Tetrarchy during the time of Diocletian:
| Role | Name | Region/Base | Responsibilities | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augustus (East) | Diocletian | Nicomedia (modern Turkey) | Senior emperor; oversaw the East, including Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt; initiated reforms (e.g., edicts against Christians, price controls). | Retained supreme authority; abdicated in 305ad |
| Augustus (West) | Maximian | Mediolanum (modern Milan, Italy) | Ruled the West, including Italy, Africa, and Spain; focused on military defense and administration. | Loyal to Diocletian; abdicated with him in 305ad |
| Caesar (East) | Galerius | Sirmium (modern Serbia) | Subordinate to Diocletian; governed Balkans, Danube frontier; enforced anti-Christian edicts aggressively. | Became Augustus in 305ad after Diocletian’s abdication. |
| Caesar (West) | Constantius Chlorus | Trier (modern Germany) | Subordinate to Maximian; ruled Gaul, Britain; defended Rhine frontier against Germanic tribes. | Father of Constantine the Great; became Augustus in 305ad; died in 306ad |