The teaching of Arius (250–336 ad), a Libyan priest living in Alexandria, who preached a Christian heresy. He declared Jesus Christ was not divine, simply an exceptional human being. In 325 the Council of Nicaea excommunicated and banished him. After Constantine’s death the Roman empire was divided on the issue and another condemnation was issued at Constantinople in 381. Germanic invaders of the empire generally adopted Arianism as it was simpler than orthodox Christianity. It spread throughout western Europe and persisted in places until the 8th century.