Lactantius

Also: Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius

Born perhaps between 240 and 260; the place is not known. Died perhaps between 320 and 326; the place is not known.

An African teacher of rhetoric whom the emperor Diocletian called to Nicomedia. He wrote the Divine Institutes and later taught the son of Constantine.

Wrote in Latin. A major author.

Places lived

295 to 305Nicomedia (now İzmit, Turkey)teacher of rhetoricyears probable
315 to 320Augusta Treverorum (now Trier, Germany)tutor of Crispusyears not sure, place probable

Works

6 works, in the order they were written. 6 works can be read here.

The Phoenix, and Fragments probably this authorabout 300 · place not known · poemA Latin poem on the bird that dies and lives again, with a few short pieces from lost works of Lactantius.3,888 words
On the Workmanship of Godc. 303 to 304 · probably in Nicomedia (now İzmit, Turkey) · treatiseThe human body as proof of the care of God.18,636 words
Divine Institutesc. 304 to 313 · perhaps in Nicomedia (now İzmit, Turkey) · apologySeven books that set out the Christian faith for educated Romans.206,169 words
On the Anger of Godc. 311 to 320 · place not known · treatiseAn argument that God can be angry, against the philosophers.20,078 words
On the Deaths of the Persecutorsc. 313 to 316 · place not known · historyHow each emperor who persecuted the church came to a bad end.18,896 words
Epitome of the Divine Institutesabout 314 to 321 · place not known · treatiseHis own short version of the Divine Institutes, made for a man named Pentadius and changed in many places.31,127 words

How we know the dates and places

Born not sure: No ancient source. Scholars say about 250. See Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 3rd ed. rev. (2005), 'Lactantius'.
Place of birth not known: Jerome, On Illustrious Men 80, says only that he was a student of Arnobius, so from Roman Africa. No town is known.
Died not sure: No ancient source. Scholars say about 325. See Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 3rd ed. rev. (2005), 'Lactantius'.
Place of death not known: No ancient source names a place.
Nicomedia, years probable: Jerome, On Illustrious Men 80; Lactantius, Divine Institutes 5.2.2 and 5.11.15 (he saw the persecution begin there in 303)
Nicomedia, place sure: Jerome, On Illustrious Men 80; Lactantius, Divine Institutes 5.2.2 and 5.11.15 (he saw the persecution begin there in 303)
Augusta Treverorum, years not sure: Jerome, On Illustrious Men 80 and Chronicle at the year 317
Augusta Treverorum, place probable: Jerome, On Illustrious Men 80 and Chronicle at the year 317