Edict of Milan (Edict of Toleration)

Roman co—emperors Constantine and Licinius met in Milan in 313A.D. to secure their alliance through Licinius' marriage to Constantia, Constantine's half—sister. It was here that the men crafted the Edict of Milan, sometimes referred to as the Edict of Toleration. This edict granted tolerance to all religions in the Empire, including Christianity, which had been heavily persecuted for the previous decade. The Christian religion was given legal recognition for the first time, and Christians were granted full restoration for the property seized during the persecutions. The edict uses the Latin phrase summa divintas, a general term referring to divinity, rather than specific religious names or terms.