Kevin MacLean (Fortress of Lugh)@FortressLugh
Some of the direct incidents of oppression by early Christians based on religion, including the oppression of other Christians of different sects.
317-321: Donatist persecutions (death toll unknown)
325: Exile of Arius and the burning of his books. Possession of Arian writings was punishable by death.
333: renewed Anti-Arian persecution.
346: Renewed Donatist persecution (death toll unknown)
361: Christian mob lynches Arian bishop George of Alexandria.
371: Martin of Tours leads raving bands of religious fanatics across Gaul, smashing sacred shrines, cutting down sacred trees and fighting with locals.
380: All non Nicene forms of Christianity were banned
385: Priscillian executed for heresy - the first person officially executed by the state for not confirming to Orthodox Christian views.
391: Theodosius bans all forms of pagan worship on punishment of death. All temples closed. Widespread destruction seen in the archeological record across the empire. (Death toll unknown)
411-412: Banning of Donatism
415: Hypatia, Alexandrian philosopher, murdered by Christian mob
529: Justinian mandated baptism for all subjects and the property confiscation and execution of anyone found worshipping pagan gods. (Death toll unknown)
529: Neoplatonic Academy of Athens forced to close for heretical views.
633: Visigoths order the forced conversion of all Jews
686: Isle of Wight invaded to exterminate paganism in Britain. Islanders forced to convert after their defeat in battle.
754: Iconoclasm in the Byzantine Empire. Those who refused to destroy icons were beaten, exiled or killed. (Death toll unknown)
782: Charlamagne mass executions for refusal to convert (4500 murdered)
785: Charlamagne mandates universal baptism. Refusal is subject to the death penalty.
843: Byzantines crush the dualist Christian Paulicians (10000+ murdered)
864: Forced conversion of Bulgars. Tribal leaders were rounded up and forced to convert and their entire people with them. (52 refused and were murdered along with their entire families - minimum several hundred killed)
I mean, this could really go on forever. I could (and maybe I will) make a two hour documentary just on this topic alone.
For many of these events we do not know how many people died. The information is almost entirely recorded by the victors and they don't often care to record such things.
The violence and state oppression was across the bord and directed at everyone with a different viewpoint, whether pagan or Christian or Jew. The demand for absolute religious conformity was insane and it went on for a thousand years like this.
