Editing Martin of Tours (section)

=== On behalf of the Priscillianists ===
[[File:El Greco - San Martín y el mendigo.jpg|thumb|180px|''[[Saint Martin and the Beggar (El Greco)|Saint Martin and the Beggar]]'' by [[El Greco]], c. 1577–1579]]

The churches of other parts of Gaul and in Spain were being disturbed by the [[Priscillianists]], an ascetic sect, named after its leader, [[Priscillian]]. The [[First Council of Saragossa]] had forbidden several of Priscillian's practices (albeit without mentioning Priscillian by name), but Priscillian was elected [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Ávila|bishop of Ávila]] shortly thereafter. Ithacius of Ossonoba appealed to the emperor [[Gratian]], who issued a [[rescript]] against Priscillian and his followers. After failing to obtain the support of [[Ambrose|Ambrose of Milan]] and [[Pope Damasus I]], Priscillian appealed to [[Magnus Maximus]], who had usurped the throne from Gratian.{{sfn|Chadwick|1976|pp=42-44}}

Although greatly opposed to the Priscillianists, Martin traveled to the Imperial court of [[Trier]] to remove them from the secular jurisdiction of the emperor. With Ambrose, Martin rejected Bishop Ithacius's principle of putting heretics to death — as well as the intrusion of the emperor into such matters. He prevailed upon the emperor to spare the life of the heretic Priscillian. At first, Maximus acceded to his entreaty, but, when Martin had departed, yielded to Ithacius and ordered Priscillian and his followers to be beheaded (in 385). Martin then pleaded for a cessation of the persecution of Priscillian's followers in Spain.<ref name=foley/> Deeply grieved, Martin refused to communicate with Ithacius until pressured by the Emperor.