Die neronische Christenverfolgung – Persecution of Christians by the Roman Emperor Nero

In 64 AD, a fire destroyed large parts of Rome. The reigning emperor Nero, who was looking for areas to build a new palace with gardens, was suspected to be the author. He laid the blame on the generally suspicious Christians, then in Rome some hundred souls, who lived separate from all public ceremonies and celebrated their religion secretly. Humble Christians were tortured and the imperial court sentenced them as arsonists to cruel death penalties; after that whoever confessed to be a Christian was sentenced and the sentences became recognized precedents. Until the early 4th century, to be a Christian was due to death penalty without further detail. Institution: Faculty of Law, Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg, Germany