The Edict of Milan - A History of Roman Catholicism

The edict is famous because it essentially legalized christianity in the roman empire. Over the centuries, the christians had been alternatvely tolerated or persecuted but their religion had never been strictly speaking legal. The edict of milan firmly established not only the christian right to worship, but it also directed provincial authorities to restore all confiscated wealth and property to the victims of the persecution. So the same officials who had so recently been kicking down doors and lives were now ordered to go back hat in hand and return to the christians everything that had been seized. This was a clear break with precedent. Even in the tolerant west.