 Little headway was made in the countryside, however, until the late 4th century, by which time Christianity was the official religion of the Roman Empire.Some heretical sects emerged in Hispania, most notably Priscillianism, but overall the local bishops remained subordinate to the Pope.Bishops who had official civil as well as ecclesiastical status in the late empire continued to exercise their authority to maintain order when civil governments broke down there in the 5th century.