A.D. 311

In A.D. 311 the emperor Galerius ended his persecution of Christians in the Eastern Roman Empire. It was also the year he died. The edict was one of partial toleration, and there was an ulterior motive behind it. Galerius had become ill and wanted everyone to pray for him. If that meant stopping his persecution so that the Christians might pray for him so be it. What was most important, for him, was that he be healthy. It did not work. He died that same year.