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A 385 constitution tightens penalties on haruspicy and sacrificial divination without closing every temple that day

391–392 go further on access and private rites. Book XVI of the later code clusters several Theodosian measures against sacrifice-for-divination before the 391–392 temple-access laws. 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

Context

391–392 go further on access and private rites. Keep the ladder visible.

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

Book XVI of the later code clusters several Theodosian measures against sacrifice-for-divination before the 391–392 temple-access laws.

Who was responsible

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

  • Theodosius I

    Person

    Direct responsibility

    responsibility level 0.4 · verified

What changed

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

    1. FactA 385 constitution tightens penalties on haruspicy and sacrificial divination without closing every temple that day
    2. weakensDriverProtection of Minority Rights
    3. strengthensIndicators (2)Having a say in government
    Worsening path

    impact weight 0.5 · Effect from 25 May 385 · 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.Fordham — Codex Theodosianus, selections from Book XVIFordham University / Internet History Sourcebooks · High credibility · verified
  2. 2.Roman law texts including Codex Theodosianus extracts — GrenobleUniversité Grenoble Alpes / Droit romain · High credibility · verified
What the sources establish

Fordham’s Book XVI selections and Grenoble’s code pages independently show Theodosian constitutions against pagan divination and sacrifice in the 380s.

Theodosius I did not file a later UNESCO form, a later Loeb colophon, or a later museum label as a personal act.

Causal path

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

  1. ActorTheodosius I
  2. contributed toFactA 385 constitution tightens penalties on haruspicy and sacrificial divination without closing every temple that day
  3. weakensDriverProtection of Minority Rights
  4. strengthensIndicatorHaving a say in government

Cite this page

Factrail. (2026). A 385 constitution tightens penalties on haruspicy and sacrificial divination without closing every temple that day. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/theo-haruspicy-385

https://factrail.ai/facts/theo-haruspicy-385

Accessed 16 October 2026.

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

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