RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
Thayer Theism
The " Magdeburg Centuries " declared Maurice an " idol " although he is the patron saint of the city, and Protestants generally have denied the credibility of the story. Roman Catholics have been more inclined to accept it. It is found in the biography of the abbot Romanus, probably written shortly after his death in 460, and a monastery then existed on the alleged site of the martyrdom and formed the goal of pilgrimage. The legend is several times mentioned in the sixth century, and Gregory of Tours knows it in its original form and also mentions Thebans who suffered martyrdom on the lower Rhine. That it originated before the middle of the fifth century and that the Theban martyrs were honored thus early must be admitted. Against the authenticity of the legend it may be alleged that almost a century and a half intervened between its supposed occurrence and the oldest record of it, while contemporaries and earlier authors make no reference to it. The tradition also suffers from inherent improbability. No Theban legion is known to have existed at that time, and it is improbable that a general like Maximian, however great his hatred of the Christians, would have put to death an entire legion at a time when he needed his soldiers to keep the barbarians and rebels in check. The chief objection to the legend, however, is that it can not be brought into harmony with the history of the Diocletian persecution. The oldest accounts themselves are at variance as to the time and place. It was not until 296 or 297 that Christians began to be removed from the army, thus preparing the way for the general persecution. If, however, the date be laid after 296, the presence of Maximian in Valais is extremely improbable, for he was then most of the time in Africa and on the Lower Rhine. Moreover, Christian soldiers were given their choice between offering sacrifice or being discharged, and executions were rare. The view of Eucherius that the martyrdom took place during the Diocletian persecution lacks historical support, since it presupposes that Christian soldiers were put to death in large numbers. No such massacres occurred, however, in the West, where the persecutions ceased altogether with the abdication of Diocletian and Maximian on May 1,
305. (G. UHLHORNt.)
Bibliography: The principal forms of the Passio sancti Mauritii et sociorum, with commentary, are in ASB, Sept., vi. 308-349, 895-926, and partly in MPL, clxxi. 1625-30. A full list of editions and literature is in Potthast, Wegweiser, pp. 1472-73; and in A. Hirschmann's contribution to Historisches Jahrbuch der Giirres-Gesellschaft, xiii (1892), 783-798. Consult further: J. A. Dubordieu, Historical Dissertation upon the Thebaean Legion, London, 1696 (adverse; this book is usually cited in the Fr. translation, Amsterdam, 1705); J. de l'lsle, Defense de la verite du martyre de la legion thebeenne, autrement de S. Maurice et de ses compagnons, pour repondre a la dissertation du ministre du Bourdieu, Nancy, 1741; P. de Rivaz, Eclaircissements sur le martyre de la legion thebeenne, Paris, 1779; J. W. J. Braun, Zur Geschichte der thebaischen Legion, Bonn ■ 1855; E. F. Gelpke, Kirchengeschichte der Schweiz, i. 50— 86, Bern, 1856; O. Hunziker, in M. Budinger, Untersuchungen zur romischen Kaisergeschichte, ii. 117—284, and Excursus II., 265-272, Leipsic, 1868; E. Aubert, Tresor de I'abbaye de Saint-Maurice d'Agaune, Paris, 1872; A. Allegre, Le Culte de S. Maurice a Caromb, Avignon, 1881; S. Beissel, Geschichte der Trierer Kirchen, i. 19-31, Treves, 1887; Ducis, Saint Maurice et la legion thebeenne, Annecy, 1887; J. Bernard, S. Maurice et la legion thebeenne, 2 vols.,
Paris, 1888; J. B. de Montmelian, Saint Maurice et la legion thebeenne, 2 vols., Paris, 1888; P. Allard, Le Persecution de Diocletien, i. 17-34, ii. 335-364, Paris, 1890; F. Stolle, Das Martyrium der thebaischen Legion, Breslau, 1891; R. Berg, Der heilige Mauricius und die thebaische Legion, Halle, 1895; DCB, iii. 641-644 (valuable); Friedrich, KD, i. 101-141; Rettberg, KD, i. 94-111; KL, vii. 1615-28; Lichtenberger, ESR, xii. 89-91.
THECLA AND PAUL, ACTS OF. See Apocrypha, B, II.
THEINER, tai'ner, AUGUSTIN: Roman Catholic Church historian; b. at Breslau, Germany, Apr. 11, 1804; d. in Rome Aug. 10, 1874. He studied theology, and afterward canon law, at the university of his native city, and published, together with his brother, Die katholische Kirche Schlesiens (Altenburg, 1826), also Die Einfiihrung der erzwungenen Ehelosigkeit bei den christlichen Geistlichen, und ihre Folgen (2 vols., 1828; new ed., 3 vols., Barmen, 1892), which was put on the Index. In 1833 he entered the Jesuit order; became a member of the Congregation of the Oratory, and was in 1855, by Pius IX., appointed conservator at the papal archives. But during the Vatican Council he was accused by the Jesuits of procuring documents from the archives for the bishops in opposition, and was removed from his position in 1870. He was a very industrious writer; his works embrace Geschichte des Pontificats Clemens XIV (2 vols., Leipsic, 1853); Annales ecclesiastici (3 vols., Rome, 1856); Vetera monumenta historica Hungarice (2 vols., 1859-60); Vetera monumenta Polonice et Lithuania (4 vols., 1860-64); Codex diplomaticus (3 vols., 1861-62); Vetera monumenta Slavorum meridionalium (1863) ; Vetera monumenta Hibernorum et Scotorum (1864); Acta concilii Tridentini (Leipsic, 1874).
Bibliography: H. Gisiger, Theiner und die Jesuiten, Mannheim, 1875; H. Briick, Geschichte der katholischen Kirche in Deutschland, iii. 344, Mainz, 1896; KL, xi. 1486-88.