The 5th century was a time of turmoil in the empire. It began with the Goths in Italy and the sack of Rome in 410. In the while, in Constantinople the Christian fanatic Empress Pulcheria ruled on behalf of her infant brother Theodosius II, buying off the Huns and issuing ever-harsher edicts against unbelievers.

Celestino I - Pope - Saint - His grave is in Mantua

The disintegration of the western empire provided a new opportunity for hierarchs of the Church. Individual Christian patriarchs took advantage of the chaos to advance their authority; one of the contenders was bishops Celestine in Rome. Pope Celestine I (422-432), faced a power struggle on many fronts, He convicted Nestorians in Rome, He exiled the rival Donatist church in north Africa, and Priscillians in Spain (the first 'heretics' to be murdered for their faith).