A Rival Bishop of Carthage
Donatus emerged from the bitter aftermath of the Great Persecution in North Africa. Under Diocletian (303 to 305), some clergy had handed over copies of the Scriptures to be burned rather than face death. Christians called them traditores, those who handed over. When Caecilian was consecrated bishop of Carthage around 311 or 312, a party of Numidian bishops refused to recognize him, because one of his consecrators was accused of having been a traditor. They consecrated a rival bishop, Majorinus. When Majorinus died around 313, Donatus succeeded him.
Little is known of Donatus's earlier life. Ancient and modern writers disagree whether he was the same man as Donatus of Casae Nigrae, a Numidian bishop condemned at Rome in 313, or a different person. His followers called him Donatus the Great.
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