Published: 2021-01-20

The Death of Galerius in the Historia adversus paganos by Orosius

Robert Suski
Saeculum Christianum. Historical Writings
Section: Rozprawy i Artykuły
https://doi.org/10.21697/sc.2020.27.2.3

Abstract

Orosius describing in the Historia against pagans illness and death of Emperor Galerius claimed that they were the result of a suicide attempt. No other source confirms this fact, including works used by Orosius, which either very briefly informs about the death of the ruler (Breviarium of Eutropius, Chronicon of Jerome), or does not mention it at all (Church History of Rufin of Aquileia). Probably the ruler's suicide was an invention of Orosius, who could think that this is how the enemy of God and Christianity should die. In the Bible, suicide is shown negatively and was most likely condemned by the Fathers of the Church.

Keywords:

Orosius, Historiography in the Late Antiquity, Galerius, late Roman Empire

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Suski, R. (2021). The Death of Galerius in the Historia adversus paganos by Orosius. Saeculum Christianum. Historical Writings, 27(2), 33–47. https://doi.org/10.21697/sc.2020.27.2.3

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