Donatism was a Christian sect that emerged in North Africa during the early 4th century. It was named after Donatus Magnus, a bishop who led the movement. Donatists believed that the validity of sacraments depended on the moral character of the clergy administering them. They argued that clergy who had renounced their faith during persecution could not perform valid sacraments. The Donatist controversy was significant in the early Christian church, leading to debates about the nature of the church and the role of its leaders. The movement was eventually deemed heretical by the broader Christian community, particularly by Augustine of Hippo, who argued for the importance of the church's unity over individual moral failings.