FROM PRIVILEGE TO PROSCRIPTION: THE TRANSFORMATION OF EPISCOPAL CONFLICT ACROSS THE LONG FOURTH CENTURY A thesis submitted to The University of Manchester for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Humanities 2015 MELISSA MARKAUSKAS SCHOOL OF ARTS, LANGUAGES AND CULTURES Contents Abbreviations ....................................................................................................................... 6 Abstract ............................................................................................................................. 10 Declaration ........................................................................................................................ 11 Copyright Statement .......................................................................................................... 11 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ 12 The Author ......................................................................................................................... 13 From Privilege to Proscription: The Transformation of Episcopal Conflict Across the Long Fourth Century ................................................................................................................... 14 0.0 Introduction: From Privilege to Proscription ............................................................. 14 0.1 Episcopal Conflict in a Period of Transition: Historical Background ........................... 17 0.1.1 Scriptural Solutions for Conflict .......................................................................... 17 0.1.2 Before Constantine: Revoking Citizen Rights Under the Law .............................. 19 0.1.3 The Fourth Century: Christian Magistracies and non-Nicene Orthodoxy ............ 23 0.1.4 The New Fifth-Century Nicene Status Quo ......................................................... 25 0.2 The Myth of Nicene Supremacy: Key Sources ........................................................... 27 0.2.1 The Theodosian Code ........................................................................................ 28 0.2.2 Fifth-Century Church Historians: Socrates of Constantinople ............................. 34 0.2.3 Fourth-Century Bishops: Ambrose, Athanasius and Priscillian ............................ 36 0.3 Dispute Resolution and the Establishment of a Fourth-Century Pecking Order ......... 40 0.3.1 Going to Law in the Fourth Century ................................................................... 40 0.3.2 Privileging Conformity and Penalising Deviance ................................................. 42 0.4 Methodology ............................................................................................................ 47 0.5 Thesis Outline ........................................................................................................... 49 1. Imperial Letters, Petitions and Rescripts: Nicene/non-Nicene Conflict through the Roman Courts (313-375) ................................................................................................................ 52 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 52 1.0.1 Context .............................................................................................................. 52 2 1.0.2 Contributions ..................................................................................................... 53 1.1 Bishops Seeking Privileges: Between Nicaea and Rimini (325-350) ........................... 54 1.1.1 Athanasius's First Exile (335) .............................................................................. 54 1.1.2 Athanasius's Second Exile (340) ......................................................................... 62 1.1.3 Paul and Macedonius contest the See of Constantinople ................................... 66 1.1.4 Athanasius Reinstated (346) .............................................................................. 68 1.2 Constantius convenes Councils (351-359) ................................................................. 71 1.2.1 The Council of Rimini (359) ................................................................................ 73 1.2.2 The Council of Seleucia (359) ............................................................................. 75 1.2.3 A Tangent at Seleucia: The Case of Cyril of Jerusalem ........................................ 76 1.2.4 Edicts After Seleucia .......................................................................................... 79 1.3 Episcopal Recourse to Roman Law after Constantius ................................................ 79 1.3.1 Athanasius in the Aftermath of the Death of Constantius (361) ......................... 79 1.3.2 Bishops of the Eastern Empire under Valens (364-378) ...................................... 80 1.3.3 Bishops of the Western Empire under Valentinian I (364-374) ........................... 84 1.4 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 88 2. Execution of a Bishop: The Case of Priscillian of Avila (380-385) ..................................... 95 2.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 95 2.0.1 Context .............................................................................................................. 95 2.0.2 Contributions ..................................................................................................... 98 2.1 Priscillian of Avila vs. Hydatius of Emerita (380-381) ............................................... 100 2.1.1 The Council of Zaragoza (380) .......................................................................... 101 2.1.2 Priscillian on the Road (381) ............................................................................ 104 2.1.3 The Story So Far ............................................................................................... 110 2.2 Priscillian vs. Ithacius of Ossonuba (381/2-385) ...................................................... 111 2.2.1 The Arrival of Magnus Maximus (383).............................................................. 113 3 2.2.2 The Council of Bordeaux (384) ......................................................................... 114 2.2.3 The Trials at Trier (385) .................................................................................... 116 2.3 Priscillian and Ambrose .......................................................................................... 119 2.4 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 121 3. Right Place, Right Time: Ambrose of Milan and the Basilica Controversy (374-386) ...... 125 3.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 125 3.0.1 Context ............................................................................................................ 125 3.0.2 Contributions ................................................................................................... 127 3.1 Palladius of Ratiaria vs. Ambrose of Milan (374-384) .............................................. 129 3.1.1. Valentinian I Grants Ambrose Episcopal Status (374) ...................................... 131 3.1.2. High-Risk, High-Reward Opportunities for Bishops (378 - 381) ........................ 133 3.1.3 Ambrose's Council of Aquileia (381) ................................................................. 138 3.1.4 After Aquileia (381-385)................................................................................... 142 3.2 Valentinian II vs. Ambrose of Milan (385-6) ............................................................ 145 3.2.1 Valentinian's Law ............................................................................................. 145 3.2.2 Privilege-Affirming Laws for the Adherents of Rimini and for Nicaea(- Constantinople) ........................................................................................................ 151 3.2.3 Accusations of Treason in the Fourth-Century Western Roman Empire ........... 157 3.4 Auxentius of Durostorum vs. Ambrose of Milan (Easter 386) .................................. 163 3.5 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 172 4. Of God or of the City: Ambrose judging Emperors (384-394) ........................................ 178 4.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 178 4.0.1 Context ............................................................................................................ 178 4.0.2 Contributions ................................................................................................... 181 4.1 Altar of Victory under Valentinian II (384) ............................................................... 183 4.1.1 Symmachus's Relatio 3 .................................................................................... 185 4 4.1.2 Ambrose, Ep. X.72............................................................................................ 188 4.1.3 Ambrose, Ep. X.73...........................................................................................