ancient schismatics in Africa, so denominated from their leader Donatus.

This sect arose in the year 311, when, in the room of Menfurius, who died in that year on his return to Rome, Cæcilian was elected bishop of Carthage, and consecrated by the African bishops alone, without the concurrence of those of Numidia. The people refused to acknowledge him, and set up Majorinus in opposition; who, accordingly, was ordained by Donatus bishop of Cæsa Nigrae. The Donatists were condemned, in a council held at Rome, two years after their separation; and afterwards in another at Arles, the year following; and again at Milan, before Constantine the Great, in 316, who deprived them of their churches, sent their sedulous bishops into banishment, and even punished some of them with death. Their cause was espoused by another Donatus, called the great, the principal bishop of that sect, who, with numbers of his followers, was exiled by order of Constantine. Many of them were punished with great severity. See Circumcelliones. However, after the accretion Donatists acceded to Julian's throne in 362, they were permitted to return and restored to their former liberty. Gratian published several edicts against them; and in 377 deprived them of their churches, and prohibited all their assemblies. But notwithstanding the severities they suffered, it appears that they had a very considerable number of churches towards the close of this century; but at this time they began to decline, on account of a schism among themselves, occasioned by the election of two bishops, in the room of Parmenian, the successor of Donatus; one party elected Primian, and were called Primianists, and another Maximian, and were called Maximianists. Their decline was also precipitated by the zealous opposition of St Augustine, and by the violent measures which were pursued against them, by order of the emperor Honorius, at the solicitation of two councils held at Carthage; the one in 424, and the other in 411. Many of them were fined, the bishops were banished, and some put to death. This sect revived and multiplied under the protection of the Vandals, who invaded Africa in 427, and took possession of this province; but it sunk again under new severities, when their empire was overturned in 534. Nevertheless, they remained in a separate body till the close of this century, when Gregory, the Roman pontiff, used various methods for suppressing them; his zeal succeeded, and there are few traces to be found of the Donatists after this period. They were distinguished by other appellations; as Circumcellionists, Montenists or Mountaineers, Campites, Rupites, &c. They held three councils, or conciliums; one at Cirta in Numidia, and two at Carthage.

The errors of the Donatists, besides their schism, were, 1. That baptism conferred out of the church, that is, out of their sect, was null; and accordingly they rebaptized those who joined their party from other churches, and re-ordained their ministers. 2. That theirs was the only true, pure, and holy church; all the rest of the churches they held as profane and fallen.

Donatus seems likewise to have given into the doctrine of the Arians, with whom he was closely allied; and accordingly, St Epiphanius, Theodoret, and some others, accused the Donatists of Arianism; and it is probable that the charge was well founded, because they were patronized by the Vandals, who held that doctrine. But St Augustine, Ep. 185, to Count Boniface, &c. 69, affirms, that the Donatists, in this point, kept clear of the errors of their leader.