Lactantius on the Death of Galerius: A Re-Reading of De Mortibus Persecutorum 33

Abstract

Abstract Lactantius on the Death of Galerius. This paper argues that De mortibus reflects in a practical fashion two central themes in Lactantian thought: firstly, that the existence of divine anger is proof of the action of divine providence in the world, and secondly that the Roman Empire could be made Christian. To illustrate these points, it looks closely at the death of the emperor Galerius, who dies in De mortibus 33 from a disease that causes his body to produce worms, which culminates in the issuing of an edict of toleration. Using a combination of close reading and contextualization, this article argues that Lactantius moves beyond a narrative of divine punishment to suggest that the death of Galerius is necessary for the reshaping of the imperial office, and by extension the entire Roman Empire, in the person of Constantine.