Donatus Magnus

Casae was a settlement located on the extreme southern edge of the plains of Numidia, south of Theveste, an area settled by people predominantly of Berber descent.

During the wave of persecutions of Christians by the Roman Emperor Diocletian, in order to avoid torture, exile, or death, some Church leaders turned over their scriptures, liturgical books, and other church goods to the imperial authorities.

These people claimed falsely to be in possession of Church property which they refused to give up to officials.

Secundus of Tigisis, primate of Numidia, held a council of 70 bishops at Cirta which declared the ordination of Caecilian to be invalid, since it was done by a traditor.

Caecilian, who by then held the basilica, did not attend the council, but sent word that if his consecration as bishop was not valid, then let it be done again.

At Carthage it was well known that Caecilian was the choice of the people, and it was not believed that Felix of Aptonga had given up the Sacred Books.

[3] The process was modeled on Roman civil proceedings, with Miltiades insisting on strict rules of evidence and argument.

This frustrated the Donatists who left the council without presenting their case, which led Miltiades to rule in favour of Caecilian by default.

[5] The adverse rulings failed to stop the continuing spread of Donatism across North Africa.

Around 400 Donatist Bishop Petilianus of Constantine claimed that Miltiades, his successor Sylvester I and others surrendered sacred texts and offered incense to Roman deities.

The Circumcellions were bands of nomadic anti-Roman rebels, Punic-speaking bandits from the lower strata of society, who supported Donatism and were sometimes led by Donatist clergy.