Constantine and the Bishops: The Politics of Intolerance

xamines the pivotal role of Emperor Constantine (r. 306–337 CE) in the Christianization of the Roman Empire, focusing on his relationship with Christian bishops and the emergence of religious intolerance. Drake, a historian at UC Santa Barbara, argues that Constantine’s policies, shaped by political pragmatism and the bishops’ growing influence, set a precedent for state-enforced religious conformity, fundamentally altering the empire’s religious landscape.

Drake uses sources like Eusebius’ Life of Constantine, Lactantius’ writings, and imperial edicts, spanning 600 pages with extensive notes and a bibliography, to argue that the “politics of intolerance” emerged not from Constantine’s personal zeal but from his reliance on bishops to govern a diverse empire.

Drake’s thesis—that intolerance stemmed from political dynamics rather than theology—challenges the traditional view of Constantine as a devout Christian savior, aligning with revisionist perspectives (e.g., Peter Brown) that emphasize late antiquity’s complexity. However, his focus on elite interactions might underrepresent grassroots Christian growth, which predated Constantine (e.g., 3rd-century communities). The narrative’s emphasis on bishops as drivers of intolerance may overstate their unity—internal schisms, like the Donatist controversy, reveal their fragmentation. Additionally, Drake’s view of a sharp shift to intolerance might oversimplify the gradual decline of paganism, which persisted in rural areas for centuries, as later studies suggest.