The reign of Emperor Valens (364-378 CE) is often marked by significant religious upheaval, particularly his policy of persecuting Christians who adhered to Nicene orthodoxy. While Valens himself was an Arian Christian, his motivations for these persecutions were complex, extending beyond simple theological preference to encompass issues of imperial authority, political stability, and the legacy of his predecessors. Understanding these persecutions requires a close look at the prevailing religious climate of the 4th century, the specific theological schisms that divided Christianity, and the emperor's own strategic decisions. The persecutions under Valens, therefore, were not merely a religious purge but a calculated political act with far-reaching consequences for the developing Christian Church.
The 4th century was a period of intense theological debate and institutional growth for Christianity. Following the Edict of Milan in 313 CE, which granted religious tolerance, Christianity moved from a persecuted minority to a favored religion, culminating in its establishment as the official state religion under Theodosius I. This rapid rise, however, was accompanied by significant internal disputes, the most prominent being the Arian controversy. Arius, a priest from Alexandria, taught that Jesus Christ was subordinate to God the Father, created by Him, and thus not co-eternal or consubstantial with God. This doctrine was condemned by the First Council of Nicaea in 325 CE, which affirmed the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity: that the Son is of the same substance (homoousios) as the Father. Despite the council's pronouncements, Arianism remained a powerful force, particularly in the Eastern Roman Empire, and continued to be championed by several emperors, including Valens.
Valens' commitment to Arianism was deeply personal and informed by his upbringing and the political landscape of the East. His brother, Valentinian I, who ruled the Western Roman Empire, was more pragmatic and less dogmatic in his religious policies, generally favoring tolerance. However, Valens, appointed to rule the East, found himself embroiled in the ongoing theological disputes. He appointed Arian bishops and sought to enforce Arianism as the dominant form of Christianity within his territories. When orthodox bishops and their followers resisted, Valens’ response escalated. Sources like Socrates Scholasticus and Sozomen, though writing later and from an orthodox perspective, detail instances of persecution, including the exile and execution of clergy and laity who refused to embrace Arianism. The persecution of the orthodox, particularly in Alexandria and Antioch, was severe, with bishops like Peter of Alexandria being exiled and many Christians suffering confiscation of property and physical punishment.
The persecution under Valens was also intertwined with his efforts to consolidate imperial authority. In an era where religious and political power were closely linked, the emperor's religious alignment often dictated his relationship with various factions within his realm. Valens likely saw the rejection of Arianism by orthodox Christians as a challenge to his legitimacy and his vision for a unified, religiously aligned empire. His actions can be interpreted as an attempt to assert his control over the religious institutions and to enforce conformity, a common imperial strategy throughout Roman history. The theological disputes were, for the emperor, a matter of state as much as a matter of faith. By suppressing the orthodox, Valens aimed to remove potential sources of dissent and to ensure a more cohesive religious environment that mirrored his political objectives.
The consequences of Valens' persecutions were significant, though their long-term impact was perhaps less transformative than initially feared. While the period caused considerable suffering for orthodox Christians, it did not eradicate their faith. In fact, the persecution may have, in some instances, strengthened the resolve of the orthodox and solidified their identity in opposition to Arianism. The emperor's death at the Battle of Adrianople in 378 CE against the Goths marked a turning point. His successor, Theodosius I, was a staunch Nicene Christian who would go on to make Nicene Christianity the official state religion of the Roman Empire, actively suppressing Arianism and other dissenting Christian groups. Valens' persecutions, therefore, ultimately served as a prelude to a more comprehensive and lasting establishment of Nicene orthodoxy, highlighting the volatile nature of religious politics in late antiquity.