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18, which is now an acknowledged fact, in the face of all appearances to the contrary, is, that he very materially modified the penalties and disabilities which affected both Jews and Christians, and that although he forbade all attempts to proselytise, the persecutions which arose during his reign must not be attributed to his enactments, or even to his wishes. Proculus, his favourite slave, was a Christian; the nurse of Caracalla was a Christian; and during his reign, when the influence of Julia Domna was paramount, the Christian Church enjoyed a period of perfect tranquillity. Matters remained unaltered under Elagabalus, although he entertained very decided religious opinions; but we have already seen that during his reign his grandmother, Maesa, and his mother, Soemis, were at the head of affairs. The condition of the Christians was, if anything, more favourable in the reign of Alexander Severus, who acted under the guidance of his mother, Mamaea. To Julia Domna must be awarded the credit of the first movement, in which all the other princesses of the same family joined,