Difference between revisions of "Constantine"
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Constantine was a Roman Emperor famous for legalizing Christianity. He lived AD February 27, 272- May 22, 337. | Constantine was a Roman Emperor famous for legalizing Christianity. He lived AD February 27, 272- May 22, 337. | ||
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| + | Although he is often held up by the Church as the ideal religious King, ruling at the will of the just God, Constantine's character is in fact much more complicated. Constantine is well-known to have considered many different religions, resorting to Christianity only in the run-up to his climactic victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, after which Constantine became the sole "Augustus" - in Diocletian's tetrarchy system - of Rome. At this battle, Constantine is said to have seen in the sky the Chi Ro, an early Christian symbol, which the Latin words "IN HOC SIGNO VINCES," or, "under this sign shall you concur." Constantine allegedly then ordered all of his troops to paint the Chi Ro on their shields, to which he attributes his victory. | ||
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| + | However, problems with this version of the events arise. The main promulgator of the "miraculous conversion" was Eusebius of Caesaria, a partisan and panegyrist of Constantine. A modern analogy would be, Eusebius was Constantine's "Karl Rove." Aside from sources traced to Eusebius, almost no historical account vouches for the Milvian Bridge conversion. | ||
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| + | It is also worth noting that much of Constantine's earlier religiosity remains in the archaeological record. For example, any casual collector can purchase the all-too-common coin of Constantine I, emblazoned with the legend, | ||
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| + | "IMP CONSTANT AUG, SOL INV.," expanded as, "Imperator Constantine Augustus, to Sol Invictus," and translated as, "Commander Constantine, Augustus, dedicated to the God of the Unconquered Sun." | ||
Revision as of 15:52, February 25, 2007
Constantine was a Roman Emperor famous for legalizing Christianity. He lived AD February 27, 272- May 22, 337.
Although he is often held up by the Church as the ideal religious King, ruling at the will of the just God, Constantine's character is in fact much more complicated. Constantine is well-known to have considered many different religions, resorting to Christianity only in the run-up to his climactic victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, after which Constantine became the sole "Augustus" - in Diocletian's tetrarchy system - of Rome. At this battle, Constantine is said to have seen in the sky the Chi Ro, an early Christian symbol, which the Latin words "IN HOC SIGNO VINCES," or, "under this sign shall you concur." Constantine allegedly then ordered all of his troops to paint the Chi Ro on their shields, to which he attributes his victory.
However, problems with this version of the events arise. The main promulgator of the "miraculous conversion" was Eusebius of Caesaria, a partisan and panegyrist of Constantine. A modern analogy would be, Eusebius was Constantine's "Karl Rove." Aside from sources traced to Eusebius, almost no historical account vouches for the Milvian Bridge conversion.
It is also worth noting that much of Constantine's earlier religiosity remains in the archaeological record. For example, any casual collector can purchase the all-too-common coin of Constantine I, emblazoned with the legend,
"IMP CONSTANT AUG, SOL INV.," expanded as, "Imperator Constantine Augustus, to Sol Invictus," and translated as, "Commander Constantine, Augustus, dedicated to the God of the Unconquered Sun."
