Editing Medieval Inquisition (section)

== Background ==
{{Main article|Heresy in Christianity}}
The Roman Emperor [[Constantine the Great|Constantine]] legalized Christianity in 312. Having been severely persecuted under previous emperors, the new religion now felt capable of commencing its program of persecution. From the moment it was recognised and empowered, there were persecutions against the adherents of other cults  — pagans, Jews, and heretics.  Though only in the fourth century of its existence, Christianity had spread widely and was already beginning to experience a multiplicity of schisms within itself. Among the most significant of the heresies at this time were [[Arianism]], [[Manichaeism]], [[Gnosticism]], the [[Adamites]], the [[Donatism|Donatists]],  the [[Pelagianism|Pelagians]], and [[Priscillianism|Priscillianists]].{{sfnp|Sabatini|1930|p=9-11}}

The [[Edict of Thessalonica]] issued on 27 February 380 by Emperor [[Theodosius I]] established [[Nicene Christianity]] as the state church of the Roman Empire. It condemned other Christian creeds as heresies of "foolish madmen" and approved their punishment.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ehler |first1=Sidney Zdeneck |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2WuMyEzani8C&pg=PA6 |title=Church and State Through the Centuries: A Collection of Historic Documents with Commentaries |last2=Morrall |first2=John B |publisher=Biblo & Tannen Publishers |year=1967 |isbn=978-0-8196-0189-6 |pages=6–7 |quote=This Edict is the first which definitely introduces Catholic orthodoxy as the established religion of the Roman world. [...] Acknowledgment of the true doctrine of the Trinity is made the test of State recognition. |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515193906/https://books.google.com/books?id=2WuMyEzani8C&pg=PA6 |archive-date=2016-05-15 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Edict of Thessalonica |url=https://www.historytoday.com/archive/months-past/edict-thessalonica |access-date= |website=History Today}}</ref> In 438, under Emperor [[Theodosius II]], the ''[[Codex Theodosianus]]'' (Theodosian Code), a compilation of laws of the Roman Empire, already provided for the confiscation of property and the death penalty for heretics.{{sfnp|Sabatini|1930|p=13}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pharr |first=Clyde |title=The Theodosian Code and Novels and the Sirmondian Constitutions |publisher=Princeton University Press |publication-date=1952 |pages=440–476}}</ref> After the [[Fall of the Western Roman Empire]] in the 5th century, there followed almost seven centuries in which persecutions for heresy became very rare. Some of the old heresies survived, but in a weakened state, and they tended not to operate openly. No new schisms appeared to emerge during this period.{{sfnp|Sabatini|1930|p=17}}