Skip to content
policyVerified

The first Great Persecution edict of 24 February 303 orders churches demolished and scriptures burned

On 24 February 303, at Nicomedia, the first edict of the Great Persecution ordered churches razed, scriptures burned, and Christians of rank stripped of legal standing. In the causal graph this event weakens Protection of Minority Rights, a driver that strengthens Having a say in government — a worsening welfare path.

Sources: [1][2]

Read the full account

On 24 February 303, at Nicomedia, the first edict of the Great Persecution ordered churches razed, scriptures burned, and Christians of rank stripped of legal standing. Diocletian as senior Augustus issued it. Later edicts demanded sacrifice.

Context

Lactantius and Eusebius are Christian narrators with reason to blacken. The edicts are still received as imperial law. Implementation was not uniform: Constantius in the West did less than Galerius and Maximinus in the East. Difference does not delete the senior signature.

Diocletian’s documented role is bounded by other offices and collaborators named in the sources below.

Who was responsible

Contribution type and responsibility level for each recorded actor — not sole-author shorthand.

  • Diocletian

    Person

    Direct responsibility

    responsibility level 0.85 · verified

What changed

Fact → Driver → Indicator. Relationship strength orders the paths; it is not the observed indicator movement.

    1. FactThe first Great Persecution edict of 24 February 303 orders churches demolished and scriptures burned
    2. weakensDriverProtection of Minority Rights
    3. strengthensIndicators (2)Having a say in government
    Worsening path

    impact weight 0.5 · Effect from 24 February 303 · verified

    • Having a say in government

      via Protection of Minority Rights

      Worse

      Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.23 (weight 0.5 × strength 0.45)

      Observed

      29.8% of population aged 16-65 years · 8.13 below the normal line (2023)

      Worse than normal

      Two readings: 30.2% of population aged 16-65 years (2021) and 29.8% of population aged 16-65 years (2023).

      20212023

      Above normal = better

    • Rule of Law Gap from the Highest Governance Score

      via Protection of Minority Rights

      Worse

      Weakens · Relationship strength 0.23 (weight 0.5 × strength 0.45)

      Observed

      43.9 Score · 43.9 above the normal line (2024)

      Worse than normal

      26 readings, 1996–2024: rose from 43 Score to 43.9 Score.

      Normal is zero · any amount = worse

Evidence

The sources behind this fact and its verification state.

Verified2 sources on file
  1. 1.Britannica — Great PersecutionEncyclopaedia Britannica · High credibility · verified
  2. 2.Lactantius, Of the Manner in Which the Persecutors Died — New AdventNew Advent / Catholic Encyclopedia fathers · High credibility · verified
What the sources establish

Britannica Great Persecution, Lactantius, and Eusebius independently date February 303; Cambridge treats regional variation as real.

Established: 24 February 303 first edict and subsequent edicts through 304 as received. Not established: a Factrail-original martyr census, or that every tetrarch implemented equally.

Causal path

How this event connects to drivers and indicators in the graph.

  1. ActorDiocletian
  2. contributed toFactThe first Great Persecution edict of 24 February 303 orders churches demolished and scriptures burned
  3. weakensDriverProtection of Minority Rights
  4. strengthensIndicatorHaving a say in government

Cite this page

Factrail. (2026). The first Great Persecution edict of 24 February 303 orders churches demolished and scriptures burned. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/di-great-persecution-303

https://factrail.ai/facts/di-great-persecution-303

Accessed 16 October 2026.

By the Factrail desk · Method: how we source and score · Last reviewed

Dispute this factNamed here, or represent someone who is? Request a right of reply.