# Of the Fifth Persecution of the Christians, under the Emperor L. Septimus Severus, Commenced about the year 201.

c. 201 · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: Of the Fifth Persecution of the Christians, under the Emperor L. Septimus Severus, Commenced about the year 201.

Source heading; not independently verified

Touching the cause which induced Severus to
persecute and put to death the Christians, ancient
authors differ. Some write that Severus was instigated
to kill and persecute the Christians, in the
tenth year of his reign, by Philip, the Governor of
Egypt. Others think that in the time of Severus
there were many cruel and bloodthirsty governors
in the provinces of the Romans; as Lethus and
Aquila, at Alexandria, in Egypt; Saturninus and
Scapula, at Carthage, in Africa; Claudius Herminianus,
in Cappadocia; Cecilius Capella, at Byzanthium;
who, at Rome, as well as elsewhere, were
most pernicious firebrands in these persecutions,
inasmuch as they instigated the Emperor and the
Roman Senate against the Christians, in order that
through this means they might seize on the possessions
of the Christians.

It is stated, that to this persecution and slaying of
the Christians, contributed at that time, not a little,
some jurists, who, through false interpretations of
the Roman laws, or at least through their self-devised
decrees, ruled nearly the whole Empire; as
Emelius, Papinianus, Ulpianus, Paulus, Messius,
Martianus, Ruftinus, Mauritianus, Tryphonius,
Menander, Macer, Callistratus, Florentinus, Hermogenes,
Saturminus, Modestinus, Furius and
Anthianus.

It was one of these jurists, namely Ulpianus, one
of the chief senators, next to Papianus, who hunted
up and collected the bloody edicts of the former
tyrants, in order that the Emperors, incited thereby,
might institute new persecutions against the
Christians. See concerning this, A. Mell. Hist.,
fol. 52, col. 4, from Euseb., lib. 6, cap. 1, 2, and
Chron. Hieron. Catal. in Origen. Also, Oros.,
lib. 7, cap. 11, 18. Also, Baron., A. D. 204. Also,
Dio. Hist. Rom., lib. 51. Also, Tert. ad. Scap.,
cap. 1–3, Tertul. de Fuga, cap. 5, ex Libris
Jurist. Also, Spart. Caracal. and Sever. Also,
Lactant., lib. 5. Just., cap. 11, 12, 19.

Very credibly, however, is the cause of this persecution
accounted for in the Introduction to the
Martyrs Mirror, Ed. 1631, fol. 38, col. 2, from
Baronius. The words are as follows: “In the year
201 was commenced the fifth persecution of the
Christians, under the Emperor Severus, in the seventh
year of his reign. It originated thus: The emperor
having come forth victorious from a civil war,
and the Christians having remained passive with
regard to this, not manifesting any signs of joy by
way of celebrating, hanging out of garlands, and
other tokens of triumph, according to the manner
of the heathen; the latter, out of envy, accused the
Christians of despising and hating the Emperor;
and the more so, because they would not swear by
the Emperor’s fortune. Besides this, they reported
of the Christians, that in their evening assemblies
they extinguished the lights, and then allowed
themselves improper intercourse with each other,
and in this manner it came that every one hated the
Christians.” See in the above citations. Others
spread the report that the Christians were child-murderers
and eaters of human flesh, that is, people
who slew their children and ate them; also,
that they honored the head of an ass as their god;
worshiped the sun, and other like palpable and
wicked falsehoods. Compare J. Gys. Hist., fol. 18,
col. 2, for the year 201, ex Tertullian ad Scapulam
and in Apol. Cypr. de Bono Pascient. Also,
P. J. Twisck, Chron. 2d book, for the year 124,
page 51, col. 2.

However, though these false accusations were
brought against the Christians, their death was nevertheless
owing entirely to the testimony and confession
of Jesus Christ—that he was the Son of God,
and the Savior of the human family.

The most violent persecution of this time, according
to Eusebius and Tertullian, was in Egypt and
Africa. From Egypt the Christians were brought
in great multitudes to Alexandria, where they were
put to death in manifold ways, for the name of
Christ. Among the principal martyrs of this time
were the following:





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