Trajan, hero of the Middle Ages?

[Maladict]

Reading Dante, I was surprised to find Trajan in Paradise. Then I remembered having seen other references to the emperor in sculpture and writings by (medieval) Christian artists, all seemingly praising his achievements. So what was it that made Trajan a model emperor for Christians? He may not have persecuted them, but he was hardly supportive of their cause.

 

to the mods: In spite of your reshuffling, I still don't know where to put this. Feel free to move it.

[caldrail]

Trajan was an emperor who gave Rome another taste of glory. For that, and the games given to celebrate his successes, he is remembered as a great emperor. Trajan of course is someone who broke the mould somewhat. He was the first non-roman emperor, a spaniard. The story goes that on his first speech to the senate, his dago accent had the senators rolling in the aisles. Well, he had the last laugh didn't he? For all his good attributes we must remember that he was also a roman emperor, and a successful one. No-one does this without political savvy and strongwill. He is after all the emmperor who staged 120 days of games to celebrate his victory in Dacia. Thats a third of the year devoted to public entertainment. The thousands of gladiators, POW's, and animals slain during that period can't be ignored.

 

So why do christians praise him? partly because he never persecuted them, but also because they shared the benefits of his reign. The christian church is after all descended from roman catholicism based in the late roman empire, which remembered him as one of romes finest emperors.

[Maladict]

So why do christians praise him? partly because he never persecuted them, but also because they shared the benefits of his reign. The christian church is after all descended from roman catholicism based in the late roman empire, which remembered him as one of romes finest emperors.

 

I guess you're right, but I can't help but think of the other emperors that would qualify as well: Augustus, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius etc. Then there are Pliny's letters, "These people must not be hunted out. But if they are brought before you and the charge against them is proved true, they must be punished.". No persecution, but it's not tolerance either.

 

Apparently, Trajan features in the 13th century 'Golden Legend', St. Gregory, remembering Trajan's deeds, asks God to spare his soul. God agrees but curiously punishes Gregory in return.

 

According to another version he is resurrected to be baptized and die as a Christian (can't find a source though). So being a virtuous pagan wasn't enough and they went through a lot of trouble to make him one of their own (resurrection is a pretty big deal).

 

From the Golden Legend:

In the time that Trajan the emperor reigned, and on a time as he went toward a battle out of Rome, it happed that in his way as he should ride, a woman, a widow, came to him weeping and said I pray thee, sire, that thou avenge the death of one my son which innocently and without cause hath been slain. The emperor answered: If I come again from the battle whole and sound then I shall do justice for the death of thy son. Then said the widow: Sire, and if thou die in the battle who shall then avenge his death? And the emperor said: He that shall come after me. And the widow said: Is it not better that thou do to me justice and have the merit thereof of God than another have it for thee? Then had Trajan pity and descended from his horse and did justice in avenging the death of her son. On a time Saint Gregory went by the market of Rome which is called the market of Trajan, and then he remembered of the justice and other good deeds of Trajan, and how he had been piteous and debonair, and was much sorrowful that he had been a paynim, and he turned to the church of Saint Peter wailing for the horror of the miscreance of Trajan. Then answered a voice from God saying: I have now heard thy prayer, and have spared Trajan from the pain perpetual. By this, as some say, the pain perpetual due to Trajan as a miscreant was somedeal taken away, but for all that was not he quit from the prison of hell, for the soul may well be in hell and feel there no pain by the mercy of God. And after, it is said that the angel in his answer said more to thus: Because thou hast prayed for a paynim, God granteth thee to choose of two things, that one which thou wilt, or thou shalt be two days in purgatory in pain, or else all the days of thy life thou shalt languish in sickness. Then answered Saint Gregory that he had liefer to have sickness all his life in this world, than to feel by two days the pains of purgatory

[Pantagathus]

It really is an interesting question Maladict.

[Maladict]

It really is an interesting question Maladict.

 

It is, isn't it?

 

Can anyone tell me when Pliny's letters were rediscovered in the West?

If they were ever lost in the first place, of course.

[Northern Neil]

Then there are Pliny's letters, "These people must not be hunted out. But if they are brought before you and the charge against them is proved true, they must be punished.". No persecution, but it's not tolerance either.

 

Was Trajan's stance motivated by a dislike of the Christian religion, or based on the fact that at that time many Christians were very belligerant in nature, and often committed crimes against the state?

[Maladict]

Was Trajan's stance motivated by a dislike of the Christian religion, or based on the fact that at that time many Christians were very belligerant in nature, and often committed crimes against the state?

 

I don't know if they were. I believe "the charge against them" would be the charge of being (openly) Christian, i.e. rejecting the pagan religion and the imperial cult. It's probably more of a practical approach than anything else if you ask me, as well as an improvement after Domitian, but someone else can probably answer it better than I can.

[caldrail]

I guess you're right, but I can't help but think of the other emperors that would qualify as well: Augustus, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius etc. Then there are Pliny's letters, "These people must not be hunted out. But if they are brought before you and the charge against them is proved true, they must be punished.". No persecution, but it's not tolerance either.

 

Disagree. Tolerance is exactly what Pliny is suggesting. But neither should that mean they get special treatment because would cause bad feeling amongst the pagan masses.

[Maladict]

Disagree. Tolerance is exactly what Pliny is suggesting. But neither should that mean they get special treatment because would cause bad feeling amongst the pagan masses.

 

The quoted text was Trajan's answer to Pliny's question. Let me put it in its context:

 

Pliny to the Emperor Trajan

 

It is my practice, my lord, to refer to you all matters concerning which I am in doubt. For who can better give guidance to my hesitation or inform my ignorance? I have never participated in trials of Christians. I therefore do not know what offenses it is the practice to punish or investigate, and to what extent. And I have been not a little hesitant as to whether there should be any distinction on account of age or no difference between the very young and the more mature; whether pardon is to be granted for repentance, or, if a man has once been a Christian, it does him no good to have ceased to be one; whether the name itself, even without offenses, or only the offenses associated with the name are to be punished.

 

Meanwhile, in the case of those who were denounced to me as Christians, I have observed the following procedure: I interrogated these as to whether they were Christians; those who confessed I interrogated a second and a third time, threatening them with punishment; those who persisted I ordered executed. For I had no doubt that, whatever the nature of their creed, stubbornness and inflexible obstinacy surely deserve to be punished. There were others possessed of the same folly; but because they were Roman citizens, I signed an order for them to be transferred to Rome.

 

Soon accusations spread, as usually happens, because of the proceedings going on, and several incidents occurred. An anonymous document was published containing the names of many persons. Those who denied that they were or had been Christians, when they invoked the gods in words dictated by me, offered prayer with incense and wine to your image, which I had ordered to be brought for this purpose together with statues of the gods, and moreover cursed Christ--none of which those who are really Christians, it is said, can be forced to do--these I thought should be discharged. Others named by the informer declared that they were Christians, but then denied it, asserting that they had been but had ceased to be, some three years before, others many years, some as much as twenty-five years. They all worshipped your image and the statues of the gods, and cursed Christ.

 

They asserted, however, that the sum and substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by oath, not to some crime, but not to commit fraud, theft, or adultery, not falsify their trust, nor to refuse to return a trust when called upon to do so. When this was over, it was their custom to depart and to assemble again to partake of food--but ordinary and innocent food. Even this, they affirmed, they had ceased to do after my edict by which, in accordance with your instructions, I had forbidden political associations. Accordingly, I judged it all the more necessary to find out what the truth was by torturing two female slaves who were called deaconesses. But I discovered nothing else but depraved, excessive superstition.

 

I therefore postponed the investigation and hastened to consult you. For the matter seemed to me to warrant consulting you, especially because of the number involved. For many persons of every age, every rank, and also of both sexes are and will be endangered. For the contagion of this superstition has spread not only to the cities but also to the villages and farms. But it seems possible to check and cure it. It is certainly quite clear that the temples, which had been almost deserted, have begun to be frequented, that the established religious rites, long neglected, are being resumed, and that from everywhere sacrificial animals are coming, for which until now very few purchasers could be found. Hence it is easy to imagine what a multitude of people can be reformed if an opportunity for repentance is afforded.

 

 

Trajan to Pliny

 

You observed proper procedure, my dear Pliny, in sifting the cases of those who had been denounced to you as Christians. For it is not possible to lay down any general rule to serve as a kind of fixed standard. They are not to be sought out; if they are denounced and proved guilty, they are to be punished, with this reservation, that whoever denies that he is a Christian and really proves it--that is, by worshiping our gods--even though he was under suspicion in the past, shall obtain pardon through repentance. But anonymously posted accusations ought to have no place in any prosecution. For this is both a dangerous kind of precedent and out of keeping with the spirit of our age.

 

 

It sounds a bit like a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy and it that respect perhaps you could call it tolerance. But being Christian was still a crime, and you would be punished for it unless you denounced it. This would put Trajan in an unfavourable light, which is what I meant to say.

So coming back to the original topic, these documents should hardly earn Trajan a place in Paradise. But then again, I can't figure out if these letters were still being read in Medieval times.