Kirchenakte405-415 · 10 years
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North Africa 405 to 415: The emperor orders the Donatists back to the Church; after the Conference of Carthage promoted by Augustine, loss of rights and a ban on assemblies follow
In 405 Emperor Honorius commanded the Donatists, under the severest penalties, to return to the Catholic Church. Augustine promoted the Conference of Carthage in 411 with 286 Catholic and 279 Donatist bishops. The imperial commissioner Marcellinus decided for the Catholics. The severest penal measures followed: in 414 loss of all civil rights, in 415 a ban on assemblies.
- Period
- 405-415 (10 years)
- Country
- DZ, TN
- Institutions
- Church in North Africa
Roman Empire - Category
- Persecution
- Level of evidence
- B two independent scholarly sources · what does this mean?
- Persons
- Augustine of Hippo (bishop, promoter of the conference)
Honorius (Roman emperor)
What happened to the people
How were they charged and sentenced?
- Augustine of Hippo arranged, after long negotiations, the Conference of Carthage in 411 with 286 Catholic and 279 Donatist bishops. The emperor sent Marcellinus, who presided and decided in favour of the Catholics.
Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Artikel Donatists
„There were present 286 Catholics and 279 Donatist bishops.“
Donatists, in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 8, Artikel Donatists. Original Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Artikel Donatists
„The decision of Marcellinus, the imperial commissioner, was in favour of the Catholic party on both questions“
Donatists, in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 8, Artikel Donatists. Original Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Artikel Donatists
„The emperor sent an official named Marcellinus“
Donatists, in: Catholic Encyclopedia (1909), Bd. 5, Artikel Donatists. Original
What happened to those affected?
- The Britannica names the severest penal measures against the schismatics: in 414 they were denied all civil rights, in 415 assembly was forbidden.
Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Artikel Donatists
„The severest penal measures were enforced against the schismatics; in 414 they were denied all civil rights“
Donatists, in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 8, Artikel Donatists. Original
Background
Course of events
- In 405 Honorius commanded the Donatists under the severest penalties to return to the Catholic Church.
Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Artikel Donatists
„commanding the Donatists, under the severest penalties, to return to the Catholic church“
Donatists, in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 8, Artikel Donatists. Original
Scholarly literature and reference works
- Reference work
Cambridge University Press (Wikisource): Donatists, in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 8, 1 January 1911. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026) - Reference work
Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource): Donatists, in: Catholic Encyclopedia (1909), Bd. 5, 1 January 1909. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)
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Last changed on 31 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.