Christianity was a persecuted religion in Rome (just remember what they did to its early leader, Jesus of Nazareth). Roman emperors Diocletian and Galerius in particular took the measures to the extreme, banning all Christian practices, imprisoning violators or throwing them to the lions. Thousands of Christians suffered; many more went underground, but Christianity as a movement would not be denied. When Emperor Constantine ascended to the throne, he took the opposite track, extending an offer of peace and recognition to Christians.

On this day, June 13, in 313 A.D. Roman Emperor Constantine in the West and Emperor Licinius in the East jointly issued the Edict of Milan, ending the persecution of Christians and restoring their property seized during the persecutions.

The edict did not make Christianity the official or even the sole religion of the state; instead, it put Christianity on par with other religions in Constantine’s empire. With the emperor having converted to Christianity himself, however, it was obvious which way the wind was blowing.