Abstract
The purpose of the present work is to determine through a comparative study of the works of other men the historical accuracy of Lactantius in his De Mortibous Persecutorum. To accomplish this aim clearly, yet concisely, I shall first set forth a biographical sketch of the author. Then I shall consider the following questions: What factors may have influenced the thinking of Lactantius? In what points and to what extent does Lactantius agree with other historians? Where does he differ? Along this procedure, I shall follow Lactantius in his treatment of the persecution and the death of the Roman emperors—Nero, Domitian, Decius, Valerian, Aurelian, and Diocletian with his associates. The Diocletian persecution, however, I shall treat at a greater length.