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Speratus
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Speratus

North African Christian
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Quick Summary

The Scillitan Martyrs were a group of 12 North African Christians from Scilla (or Scillium) in Numidia who were tried in Carthage on July 17, 180 CE, under the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. Speratus was their main spokesperson.1

The Acts of their martyrdom is the earliest authentic document on Christianity in North Africa and is considered the earliest example of Christian Latin. Speratus stated that he and his companions lived moral lives but refused to deny their faith or swear by the emperor's "genius." As a result, they were executed by order of the Roman proconsul Saturninus.1

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. patristic literature - Late 2nd to early 4th century
  2. Scillitan Martyrs

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