On February 23, 303, Roman emperor Diocletian ordered the destruction of a Christian church in Nicomedia — launching what would become the most intense persecution of Christians in Roman history.

In this episode of Baked Battlefields, we break down the start of the Diocletianic Persecution — a campaign built not on battlefield victories but on imperial edicts, bureaucracy, and fear of losing control. Churches were destroyed, scriptures burned, and believers forced to choose between sacrifice to the Roman gods or punishment under imperial law.

We talk power, politics, and why Rome believed unity required conformity — and how the attempt to erase a movement may have strengthened it instead. Along the way, we keep it real, keep it respectful, and explore why some of history’s biggest turning points happen without armies ever clashing.

Precise history.

Imprecise sobriety.

Empires vs ideas.