Make love not war.
How did st. Valentine become one of the first draft Dodgers?
Lets find out.
.The story of Saint Valentine as the "first draft dodger" is a fascinating blend of historical fragments and medieval romanticism. While the term "draft dodger" is a modern political label, the core of the Valentine legend is indeed a story of civil disobedience against a military-industrial complex.
To understand how Valentine became a symbol of protest, we have to look at the collision between the Roman war machine and the early Christian underground.
The Imperial Conflict: Marriage vs. The Military
In the 3rd Century, the Roman Empire was facing what historians call the "Crisis of the Third Century"—a period of constant civil war, plague, and economic collapse. Emperor Claudius II (known as Claudius Gothicus) believed that his primary obstacle to a strong army was, quite literally, love.
- * The Decree: Claudius allegedly banned marriages and engagements for young men in Rome.
- * The Logic: He believed that "attachment" made soldiers weak. A man with a wife and children was less likely to charge into a suicidal battle than a man with nothing to lose.
- * The Consequence: This created a mandatory pipeline from civilian life to the legions, effectively "drafting" the entire male population by removing the domestic alternative.
Valentine, a priest in Rome (or possibly the Bishop of Interamna), viewed this decree not just as a social injustice, but as a theological violation. In his view, marriage was a sacred rite that superseded the mandates of the state.
1. Underground Resistance
Valentine began performing secret marriages for young couples in defiance of the Emperor’s edict. In modern terms, this was a systematic sabotage of the recruitment process. By facilitating these unions, he was providing young men with a moral and legal reason (within their community) to prioritize the family unit over the imperial war effort.
2. The "Draft Dodger" Symbolism
While Valentine wasn't hiding in a basement to avoid his own service, he was the architect of evasion for others. He acted as a "conscientious objector" by proxy. He used his religious authority to validate the choice of peace and domesticity over the state-mandated violence of the era.
The Trial and Execution
Valentine’s "protest" eventually caught the attention of the authorities. When he was captured, legend suggests he attempted to convert Emperor Claudius himself, which was the ultimate act of defiance.
"If you knew the grace of God, you would not call these idols demons, but would worship the true God who is in heaven." — Traditional account of Valentine's defense.
He was executed on February 14, around 270 AD. Before his death, he reportedly healed the blind daughter of his jailer and left her a note signed "From your Valentine," turning a moment of state oppression into the founding gesture of romantic correspondence.
Historical Context & Nuance
It is important to note that the historical record for Valentine is "thin." There were actually two or three different Saint Valentines martyred in the 3rd century. Much of the "marriage ban" narrative was popularized much later, particularly by Geoffrey Chaucer and other medieval writers who wanted to link the saint to the "birds and bees" of springtime.
However, as a cultural narrative, the essay of Valentine’s life remains the earliest and most famous example of a citizen standing between a government's demand for soldiers and the individual's right to choose a life of peace.
Resources
- The wild geese
- https://thewildgeese.irish/m/blogpost?id=6442157%3ABlogPost%3A141729
- St. Valentine- wiki
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Valentine#:~:text=There%20are%20many%20other%20legends,Valentine's%20Day.
