Persecution of Jews in the Roman and Byzantine Empires

Constantine I
The first Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine I, issued the Edict of Milan in the 4th century and caused Jews to lose many rights and were no longer permitted to live in Jerusalem or to proselytize.

Constantius II
Constantius II was a Christian Roman Emperor during the 4th century and was the son of Constantine. He created laws that were beneficial to Christian clergy and limited the rights of the Jews.

Destruction of the Callinicum synagogue
During 388, a Christian mob led by a bishop looted and burnt down a synagogue in Callinicum. Ambrose defended the bishop responsible and the Emperor did not punish him.

Leo III of Constantinople
Leo III of Constantinople, in 722, outlawed Judaism and forced Jews to convert to Christianity.

John III Ducas Vatatzes
In 1253, Emperor of Nicaea, John III Ducas Vatatzes, committed legal persecution of the Jews and ordered that the Jews within the Empire of Nicaea to convert to Christianity.