What is the difference between the Edict of Milan and the Edict of Thessalonica?

Issued by Constantine and Licinius in 313, the Edict of Milan decriminalized Christianity and allowed freedom of worship in the Roman Empire. Decades later in 380, the Edict of Thessalonica issued by Theodosius I went much further by officially establishing Christianity as the sole Roman state religion.

What we know

• The Edict of Milan was issued in 313 by Constantine the Great and his co-emperor Licinius, decriminalizing Christianity. [2]
• The Edict of Milan suppressed pagan populations throughout the Roman Empire. [2]
• The Edict of Thessalonica was issued in 380 by Emperor Theodosius I. [2, 3]
• The Edict of Thessalonica officially established Christianity as the Roman state religion. [2, 3]

Where to go next

• what caused itWhy did Emperor Nero persecute early Christians?
• what followedHow did the First Council of Nicaea shape early Christian doctrine?
• the bigger pictureWhat was the Constantinian shift in fourth-century Christianity?
• whoWho was Emperor Theodosius I?
• whenWhat were the consequences of the Edict of Serdica?
• an unexpected connectionDid a military defeat in the Roman-Persian Wars trigger the first decree of tolerance for Christians?The first decree of tolerance for Christian practices under Gallienus occurred abruptly after his predecessor Valerian was captured during the Battle of Edessa.

Sources

• [1]persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire (Wikidata Q1078506) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]First Council of Constantinople · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]First Council of Nicaea · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Constantinian shift · CC BY-SA 4.0

Your path

1. Where is Caravaggio's The Taking of Christ located?
2. /Why did the Western Roman Empire collapse?
3. /Where does the North American Plate meet the Caribbean Plate?
4. /How did expanding Roman citizenship spark domestic unrest?
5. /Why did population decline in medieval Rome and Europe?
6. /How did Diocletian seize power after Emperor Carus died?
7. /What commentaries did Theon and Hypatia of Alexandria write?
8. /What is the difference between the Edict of Milan and the Edict of Thessalonica?