Milan
A city of northern Italy, where Constantine and Licinius met in the winter of 312–313 and agreed on freedom of worship. Later in the century Ambrose was its bishop and Augustine was baptised there.
Milan, the Roman Mediolanum, lies in the plain north of the river Po. Constantine went there after his victory at Rome, and Licinius joined him to marry Constantine’s sister (Lactantius, Deaths of the Persecutors 45). The letter on freedom of worship that Licinius published a few months later begins by recalling their meeting in the city (Lactantius, Deaths of the Persecutors 48), which is why it is known as the Edict of Milan. Two generations later Ambrose was bishop of Milan when Augustine came to teach rhetoric there (Augustine, Confessions 5.13.23), and Augustine was baptised in the city (Augustine, Confessions 9.6.14).
What happened here
- AD 313, firm dateThe Edict of Milan
Constantine and Licinius agree at Milan that Christians and everyone else may worship as they choose. The text that survives is a letter Licinius had posted at Nicomedia in June 313, which also orders confiscated church property returned.
- AD 386, firm dateThe Conversion of Augustine
In a garden at Milan the African teacher of rhetoric Augustine, after years of hesitation, reads a sentence of Paul and resolves to seek baptism. He tells the story himself in the Confessions. Ambrose baptises him the following Easter.
- AD 390, estimated dateAmbrose Calls an Emperor to Penance
After Theodosius orders a massacre at Thessalonica, Ambrose of Milan writes that he cannot celebrate the eucharist in the emperor’s presence until he repents. Theodosius does public penance. Later writers add a confrontation at the church door that is not in the letter.