February 313

The Edict of Milan

At Milan in February 313, Constantine and Licinius agreed on a policy of toleration. Their alliance was sealed by Licinius's marriage to Constantine's sister.

The document was in substance a joint decision rather than an imperial edict. It granted freedom of worship to all religions, with special provisions for Christians. Confiscated property, churches and cemeteries were returned to Christians. Constantine began building churches and exempting the clergy from taxes.

One book attributes the document's vague language about the "supreme deity" to the influence of Licinius, a devotee of the Sun. Persecution finally ended only later, once Constantine became sole ruler.