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{{Rome}}'''Constantine''' was a [[Rome|Roman]] [[Emperor]] famous for legalizing [[Christianity]].  He lived AD February 27, 272 - May 22, 337.

{{Rome}}'''Constantine''' was a [[Rome|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 conquer."  Constantine allegedly then ordered all of his troops to paint the Chi Ro on their shields, to which he attributes his victory.

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]] in 312 AD, after which Constantine became the sole "[[Augustus]]" - in [[Diocletian]]'s tetrarchy system - of Rome (the west).  [[Lucinius]] was still Augustus of the east.  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 conquer."  Constantine allegedly then ordered all of his troops to paint the Chi Ro on their shields.  He won a crushing victory ending his civil war with Maxentius when Maxentius drowned trying to escape.  He attributed his victory to Christianity.

However, problems with this version of the events arise.  The main promulgator of the "miraculous conversion" was [[Eusebius|Eusebius of Caesaria]], a [[partisan]] and [[panegyrist]] of Constantine.  Aside from sources traced to Eusebius, almost no historical account vouches for the Milvian Bridge conversion.

However, problems with this version of the events arise.  The main promulgator of the "miraculous conversion" was [[Eusebius|Eusebius of Caesaria]], a [[partisan]] and [[panegyrist]] of Constantine.  Aside from sources traced to Eusebius, almost no historical account vouches for the Milvian Bridge conversion.

"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."

"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."

[[category:Roman emperors]]

[[category:Roman emperors]]