Christian Executions..

[Draconis]

Part of the Emperor's right to rule was descent from, connection to the gods and often Emperor's were declared to be gods after death. To deny this was to deny the Emperor's right to rule. This was sedition, much like later on denying a given monarch like HenryIV of England had a right to rule because he had deposed a King, anointed by a representative of god to be the rightful King. The government was within its rights to quell such claims as denying the Emperor's right to rule denied Rom'es right to rule, and could have led to rebellion. The Romans were very broadminded about what gods you worshipped as long as you didn't challenge the status quo regarding the Emperor,s divine connections and right to rule.