CONSTANTINE I: BIOGRAPHY, GOVERNMENT, WARS, DEATH - ARTE

Constantine I (c. 272 - 337), also known as the Great, was an emperor of Rome (306 - 337). He is famous for having given legal status to the Christian religion within the Roman Empire. Likewise, he established the city of Constantinople, which had been called Byzantium until then.

Thanks to his policies began the transition from Rome to a Christian Empire. In addition, Constantine managed to unify under his command the Roman Empire, which was divided between east and west.

Constantine the Great, by Firth, John B. (John Benjamin), 1868-1943, Internet Archive Book Images, via Wikimedia Commons

He was proclaimed emperor in the West after the death of his father, Constantius Chlorus, in 306. Two years later his father's co-regent, Galerius, met with the previous emperors: Diocletian and Maximian, the three decided to annul his proclamation as Caesar.

In 312 he defeated Maxentius in the vicinity of the capital and thus Constantine took the title of Roman emperor. A year later in the Eastern Roman Empire, Licino rose as ruler by overthrowing Maximinus.

Licino and Constantino decided to grant freedom of cult to the followers of Jesus Christ within the Roman borders. In this way religion began to be practiced without those who professed it being persecuted and punished.

Constantine decided that the Roman Empire should be ruled by only one arm, his. Then, he proceeded to defeat Licino in 324 and achieved the dream of unity within the borders of Rome.

In 325 the Council of Nicea was approved. Constantine I rebuilt part of the city of Byzantium, which he named Constantinople and designated as the capital. The emperor died in 337.

Biography

Early years

Flavio Valerio Aurelio Constantino was born on February 27 c. 272 in the city of Naissus, present-day Niš, in what is now Serbia. He was the son of a military man named Flavio Valerio Constancio, it is not known if he had married Constantine's mother, a Greek named Helena.

His father was probably not a figure constantly present in his growth, because he held a high position: bodyguard of the Emperor Aurelian and later Caesar of the Roman Empire.

Although Constantine's paternal family was of Illyrian origins, his father managed to achieve the title of Caesar in 293. Then, Constantine moved to the court of Diocletian and then to that of Galerius.

There he received his training that covered both the Latin and Greek languages, literature and philosophy. He wasn't just there for the purpose of educating himself, but to coerce his father to perform in the best possible way.

Constantius was Caesar until 305, when he became Augustus along with Galerius. It was thought that those selected would be Constantine and Maxentius, the son of Maximiano.

However, the ancient Caesars were promoted to augustus, while Severus and Maximinus took the title of Caesar. At that time Constantine was able to go to Constantius's side in Gaul, where preparations were made for raids into Britain.

Death of Constantius

The position of Augustus was not held for long by Constantius, since the Emperor of Rome died the following year in Eboracum, present-day York. Constantine was with his father and the legions that accompanied them proclaimed him emperor.

Later, Constantine sent a message to Galerius in which he notified him that he had been appointed Augustus by the men of his army. Furthermore, he requested that he acknowledge his accession to the Roman throne.

Galerio upon receiving that request was outraged, as he considered that his designs were being overtaken. The old colleague of his father decided to grant Constantine the title of Caesar, who was subordinate to his respective Augustus.

However, Galerius's advisers had assured him that if he made that decision he would almost certainly unleash a war.

The one selected by Galerius to serve as Augustus was Severus, who had previously been designated Caesar. Likewise, he sent Constantine the purple suit, as a way of reaffirming his authority.

The final deal was accepted by Constantine who thus knew that the legitimacy of his claim to the Roman Empire could be made.

Beginnings in government

After beginning to exercise his functions as Caesar, Constantine decided to remain in Britain, from where he continued some works and plans begun by his father before he died, such as the repair of forts and roads.

Then he left for the Gauls, specifically Augusta Treverorum. Its zone of control extended from the British Isles to Gaul and Hispania. He strengthened the Trier area and promoted large constructions in the Gallic lands.

He forged his name thanks to propaganda founded on the fame of Constantius, which placed Constantine as the continuation of the family legacy. However, his good management provided him with more reasons to be compared with the old Augustus.

In addition, he showed the Roman superiority over the Germanic tribes in different opportunities, especially, in the coins whose legends praised his victories over the Alemanni.

In Rome there was one of the events that would make the Empire change permanently. The proclamation of Maxentius, Maximian's son, as Augustus, unleashed an intricate political game of unions and betrayals that rapidly renewed the panorama.

Maxentius Rebellion

After seeing the success that Constantine had had and the power he held, Majecio decided to do the same in 306 and had him proclaimed Augustus in the city of Rome, backed by his army, which remained loyal to Maximiano.

After that, Maximiano returned to the convulsive political plane of the time and also proclaimed himself Augustus. Faced with the events, Galerius decided to send Severus to march on Rome to try to restore order to the city and consolidate the plans that had been previously agreed upon.

Severo's forces had a large proportion of soldiers who were loyal to Maximiano, having served under him for a long time. In this way high numbers deserted and the attempt to retake Rome was frustrated.

Severus fled to Ravenna after the defeat and there he fortified himself. Maximiano decided to make a peace agreement with the Augustus appointed by Galerius and he accepted, with which he was arrested and transferred to a public village as a prisoner.

Galerius tried once more to seize power in the capital of the Roman Empire in 307, but his plans failed once more and he had to return to the north with his troops, whose numbers dwindled.

The pact of Maximiano

Later in 307, Maximiano met with Constantine, there they both managed to reach an agreement in which three main points were established. The first was the family union through the marriage between Constantine and Fausta, daughter of Maximiano.

Later, the clamor of Constantine and Maxentius to the title of Augustus was equally ratified, in the same way as the alliance between Constantine and Maximian, as it had once existed between him and Constantius.

And finally, Constantine should remain neutral in the dispute with Galerius.

The following year, the disagreements between Maximiano and Maxentius became unbearable and the father exploded in public against his son, considering that he would be supported by the troops present who, instead, sided with Maxentius.

In 308 Galerius decided that it was prudent to reach an agreement with Diocletian and Maximian, for which they met at Carnuntum. In the agreement it was established that Maximiano should renounce his title of Augustus.

It was also suggested that Constantine should once again bear the title of Caesar that had been granted to him by Galerius and that the latter's trusted officer, called Licino, would be named Augustus.

Maximian's betrayal

In 309 Maximiano returned to the court of his son-in-law. However, during Constantine's absence his father-in-law decided to betray him. He declared that Constantine was dead and donned the emperor's costume.

Maximian did not foresee the fidelity that existed among Constantine's soldiers and officials, who did not succumb to his offers of wealth and position. He escaped and managed to take shelter in the current city of Marseille.

When Constantine learned of this revolt, he decided to go after Maximian's trail and the city, which was also loyal to him, opened its back doors to Caesar. Shortly thereafter Maximiano hanged himself after renouncing his titles.

Constantine the Great, Title: «Geiltustreerde geschiedenis van België. Geheel herzien en het hedendaagsche tijdperk bijgewerkt door Eug. Hubert »Author: MOKE, Henri Guillaume. Contributor: HUBERT, Eugène Ernest. Shelfmark: "British Library HMNTS 9414.l.2." Page: 48 Place of Publishing: Brussel Date of Publishing: 1885 Issuance: monographic Identifier: 002519118, via Wikimedia Commons

The first version offered by Constantine did not have great details regarding the death of his father-in-law and showed it as a family affair. He then clarified that after a frustrated assassination attempt against Constantine, Maximiano decided to end his life.

Maxentius took the opportunity to show himself as a good son seeking revenge for Maximiano's death, although the differences he had had with his father were public, as was the separation that existed between the two.

War preparations

In 310 the political dynamics underwent great changes, especially because Galerius, who was one of the most influential Augustus, fell seriously ill and then died a year later. That plunged the Empire into deep disorder from the constant power struggles that began.

Before dying, Galerius was in charge of issuing a final decree from Nicomedia: he declared that the persecution of Christians in the imperial territory was ended, he also approved religious tolerance for that group.

The first to face each other were Maximinus and Licinus, who was in Asia Minor. After that and fearing to be attacked by Constantine, who was his most powerful rival, Maxentius fortified northern Italy.

As for the Christians in Rome, Maxentius made a move that allowed him to win their favor: he granted them that they could choose a bishop in the capital of the Empire, which was Eusebius. However, his open attitude with which he fulfilled Galerius's final designs did not save him from popular rejection.

Trade declined due to the problems that ran between the two august; This, together with the rise in taxes and the numerous revolts and looting throughout the kingdom, constituted real setbacks for the efficient government of Maxentius.

In addition, in Africa Domicio Alexander rose up, who also proclaimed himself Augustus in 310.

Way to rome

In 311 Maxentius decided that the opportunity to go against Constantine had come and used as an excuse his thirst for revenge because of the death of his father, Maximiano.

Constantine seized the alliance of Licino, the other Augustus who had just been humiliated by Maximinus. Good faith was sealed with the union between Constancia, Constantine's sister, and Licino between 311 and 312.

Maximinus, who by then was the only Caesar of the Empire, felt offended by such actions of Constantine, as he thought that his authority was being trampled upon by first seeking an alliance with Licino.

Then, Maximino decided to make a pact with Maxentius, whom he recognized as the legitimate ruler and Augustus of the Roman Empire.

Everything had been shaped for the clash between the most powerful contenders for the purple: Constantine and Maxentius. When he learned that his opponent was preparing his forces, Constantine decided to charge first against Maxentius, contravening his advisers.

In 312 he crossed the Cotian Alps with an army made up of about 40,000 men. The first city they came to was Segusium, which was fortified. Constantine's military talent quickly granted him the square and his sagacity prompted him to ban looting.

Italy an open field

After taking Segusium the men of Constantine continued their march towards the capital. They subdued the populations they encountered on their way. The second city they came across was present-day Turin.

There were located troops loyal to Maxentius who proposed to keep the city loyal to whom they considered the royal august. Constantine and his men surrounded the enemy cavalry and quickly turned the scene in victory.

Then, the city refused to shelter the defeated, while it received both Constantine and his men with the doors open after they emerged victorious from the battlefield. It was then that other cities began sending delegations to congratulate their victory.

Then, when they arrived in Milan, the city also welcomed them as heroes, its wide open doors showing a prelude to what awaited in Italy. Although other battles did occur before they managed to enter Rome victorious.

Verona and victory

Verona was the last stronghold loyal to Maxentius in Constantine's journey. There was stationed a camp in a good defensive position.

Seeing the terrain, Constantine decided to send a small number of soldiers north. Those men managed to defeat the envoys to finish them off by Ruricio, a praetorian guard of Maxentius.

Then, Ruricio tried to return accompanied by more men to face Constantine. His return was not only a failure, it also led the military loyal to Maxentius to his own death on the battlefield.

Along with the victory came the end of the opposition to the passage of Constantine through the Italian territory. Aquileia, Mutina (known today as Modena) and Ravenna welcomed him and awaited him with great entertainment, as was proper for the Roman emperor.

The only point needed to declare Constantine's victory in the Empire was the capital, Rome, where Maxentius was stationed. The other august thought that he would face a conventional battle and was confident that he could easily achieve victory.

By leaving the rest of Italy unprotected, Maxentius only managed to win over Constantine with the rest of the region.

Confrontation against Maxentius

In Rome they prepared for a siege, collected enough grain and took shelter within the imposing city walls, which they considered impenetrable by an invader.

Battle at the Milvio Bridge, by Giulio Romano, via Wikimedia Commons

In addition, Maxentius ordered that the accesses to the city through the Tiber be cut off, so that the arrival of Constantine's army on foot was made impossible.

In 312 a great anxiety fell over the Roman people, who did not know what the result of the confrontation between the most powerful men of the Empire held. Maxentius prepared for combat and addressed the oracles.

The prophecies predicted the following words: "The enemy of Rome will die today." This was considered by Maxentius a clear sign that he could not lose in the battle against Constantine and he headed with full confidence to the field, which took place on the other bank of the Tiber.

His men took positions with their backs to the river, then the troops of Constantine arrived carrying the sign of Christ on their shields.

In a short time it was learned that Constantine had won: his cavalry broke ranks among Maxentius's men and allowed infantry to enter. Quickly the ancient occupants of Rome tried to flee towards the Tiber.

Many drowned in the waters of the river, among them was Maxentius, whose corpse was rescued and later beheaded. On October 29, 312 Constantine entered Rome.

Constantine in the capital

The entry of Constantine to Rome brought happiness to the inhabitants of the city and political center of the Roman Empire. It was very important for his government to take advantage of the sympathy that he had generated in the citizens.

Carthage, who had continued to offer resistance to Constantine's power, became submissive upon receiving the head of the ancient Augustus, Maxentius.

Constantine decided to make his sacrifices in the Temple of Jupiter. Then he went to the Curia Julia and they promised to restore the former position held by its members in the government of the Empire.

In addition, he continued to increase the liking among his people by forgiving all those who had been supporters of Maxentius, except the military, who he removed from their positions.

When Constantine appeared before the Senate, he made it clear that he would return the properties confiscated by Maxentius to their rightful owners and that he would give freedom and pardon to all political prisoners who had been persecuted by the previous ruler of the city.

That gave him the title of "the greatest Augustus", while it became the first of his name in all official documents.

Propaganda

According to the propaganda that began to spread at the time of the Roman Empire, Maxentius was to be considered an oppressor and Constantine was left as the liberator from the yoke that had loomed over Rome.

In addition, he began the remodeling and improvement of all the public works that had been erected in the time of Maxentius, in order to erase from the memory of the Romans any indication that he had been an adequate ruler.

Triumphal Entry of Constantine I into Rome, by Peter Paul Rubens, via Wikimedia Commons.

Alliance with Licino

In 313 Constantine met with Licino in the city of Milan with the intention of sealing the pact that had been proposed long ago through the marriage of the Augustus of the East with Constancia, sister of the Emperor Constantine.

On that same occasion, both rulers promulgated the well-known Edict of Milan, by which the tolerance of the Christian religion, as well as other creeds, within the Roman Empire was decreed.

Among the promises, it was said that the properties seized in Diocletian's time from those who professed their devotion to the teachings of Jesus would be restored.

The forms used by previous governments to repress adherents of other religions were also repudiated.

Maximinus, the only Caesar left in the Empire at the time, was in Armenia when the alliance between Licino and Constantino happened. He felt that his authority had been trampled on, since while Licinus controlled Eastern Europe, he dominated Asia.

In this way the confrontation between Caesar and the Augustus of the Eastern Roman Empire was unleashed.

Licino against Maximino

When Maximinus returned to Syria, he decided to take 70,000 men and charge against Licino to try to reassert his power on the battlefield. The bad weather that Maximino's army faced caused it to suffer some casualties, but it reached its destination anyway in April 313.

Licino for his part prepared for the confrontation in Adrianopolis with about 30,000 soldiers. They met at the Battle of Tzirallum. Despite being obvious the numerical inferiority of Licino, he managed to win the match quickly.

Maximino managed to escape along with several of his supporters, but historians have immortalized the massacre that represented the meeting of the two emperors for Caesar's side.

In his retreat, Maximinus reached Nicomedia and tried to fortify himself in Cilicia. After that he continued on his way to Tarsus, where he eventually died during the same year 313.

Some have speculated that Maximinus was assassinated, while others considered that he committed suicide due to the humiliation of his defeat.

The diarchy

At first, the relations between Constantine and Licino had been cordial, since both needed the support (or neutrality) of the other in order to consolidate their respective positions within the government.

However, having eliminated the other enemies, both augustians began to feel eager to gain absolute control of Rome. This is how the differences between them began to become more and more evident.

Licino wished to ascend to the position of Caesar in his dominions within the Empire to a man very close to him named Senecio. Later it was learned that this candidate carried out a plot with the purpose of assassinating Constantine.

Meanwhile, the Augustus of Rome had promoted Basiano, the husband of his cousin, and also Senecio's brother, to the position of Caesar. Licino interpreted that action as an affront, as did Constantine with the attack against him by a man so close to his colleague.

Licino ordered that the statues of Constantine of Emona be removed. At the same time, Constantine requested that Senecio be handed over to him to punish him for his crime.

Time later, the rivalry between the two did not stop and they tried to resolve them backed by their respective armies.

Fight between the august

The year is not known with precision, but around 314 to 316 the battle of Cibalis took place. Constantine decreed the ascension of Basiano to Caesar and requested the ratification of Licino, who refused to give his approval.

Constantine took advantage of the situation to march against Licino in an area known as Cibalis, which was located within present-day Croatia. The battle was hard and they were fighting evenly all day.

At nightfall a movement by Constantine changed the outcome of the contest. His cavalry attacked the left flank of the troops of Licino, broke the order within the enemy formations and massacred the supporters of the Augustus of the East.

With human losses amounting to 20,000 soldiers, Licino fled to Sirmio, present-day Serbia, and from there continued to Thrace. At that time, Licino decided to raise a ruler of the area who lent him support named Valerio Valente to augusto (317).

Battle of Mardia

Constantine and Licino were again face to face in the Battle of Mardia. The combat began with the archers, of which they made use until the existence of arrows was exhausted in both parts. Then they continued to face each other.

When the real fighting began, the superiority of Constantine's men became clear. However, Licino managed to escape once more, despite 5,000 men being sent on his trail.

Constantine thought that his colleague and enemy would go to Byzantium and set out in that direction, but Licino turned north and took refuge in Augusta Trajana. He was in a privileged position, since from there he was able to cut Constantine's supply and communication lines.

Peace of Serdica

By that time, both augustians had been left in a vulnerable position facing the enemy and the most reasonable solution seemed to be to reach an agreement. On March 1, 317 in Sérdica Constantino and Licino met to make a pact.

The main agreements they reached were: that Licino recognized Constantine as a superior ruler to him, although both would be appointed consuls of the Roman Empire. Furthermore, Licino ceded the provinces under his control in Europe and was content to keep the Asian ones.

Valerio Valente was deposed and assassinated. They also agreed that both the son of Licino, Licino II, as those of Constantino, Crispus and Constantino II would be named Caesars of the Roman Empire.

Final showdown

Peace between Constantine and Licino was maintained, although the agreement was fragile and unstable. The Augustus of the East dealt with border problems with the Sarmatians from 318 onwards.

Some versions indicate that from 320 Licino broke with what was promised in the Edict of Milan and returned to persecute those who professed the Christian faith in the Eastern Roman Empire, which is why Constantine began to seek a confrontation with his colleague.

In 321, Constantine persecuted a group of Sarmatians who were causing trouble in the Western Empire as far as Thrace, which was supposed to be outside his authority.

Despite the fact that Licino complained on that occasion, Constantine did it again later while going after some Goths.

The second complaint was more than enough reason, from Constantine's point of view, to march with 130,000 men towards the dominions of Licino in Thrace, specifically towards the city of Adrianople.

Battle of Adrianople

Licino's men camped on one bank of the Hebro River, while Constantine's supporters arrived on the other: His strategy to deceive the enemy was to divide his army and suggest that they would build a bridge at a certain point on the river.

At the same time, Constantine saw a hidden space thanks to a grove, which was perfect to cross with part of his men. He sent forward a portion of the soldiers while the bulk of his army stood in front of Licino's, separated by the Hebro.

The surprise was a success and at nightfall they managed to turn the scene into an undoubted victory after which the rest of the troops crossed the river to support their companions.

Licino retired to a high point, but the forces that remained were overcome by those of Constantine who, accompanied by the Christian symbol of the labarum, managed to increase his fervor and ferocity in battle.

At nightfall, despite having lost a large part of his men, Licino managed to escape under the cover of darkness. While Constantine's soldiers rested and prepared to continue hostilities.

Battle of the Hellespont

After escaping, Licino went to Byzantium, but considering the proximity of Constantine's men, he left the garrisoned city and continued on his way to the Asian continent, separated by a strait known as Hellespont or, today, the Dardanelles.

In order to control communications and secure his position, Licino had to have control of that strait. Meanwhile, Constantine and his men arrived in Byzantium, a city which they put under siege.

The son of Constantine, Crispus, was in charge of opening the way for the army of the western Augustus to Asia. Licino's fleet, commanded by Abanto, was far superior to Crispus's. The first is believed to have consisted of approximately 200 vessels while the second of 80.

Head of the colossal statue of Constantine I, Musei Capitolini, Rome. Marble, Roman artwork, 313–324 CE., By lepi.mate,, via Wikimedia Commons.

Thanks to the greater mobility in the water, Crispus's men managed to counter Abanto's ships and won the first confrontation, after which Licino's supporter withdrew and secured reinforcements.

The new fleet of Abanto suffered great losses due to a storm that diminished their numbers and allowed Crispus, again, to emerge victorious and hand over control of Hellespont to his father for the passage of his men.

Battle of Chrysopolis

Licino's army, which left Byzantium after the defeat at Hellespont, joined him in the region of Chalcedon, assisted by Visigoth merchants led by Alica.

Constantine, after the victory of Crispus, managed to pass through the strait without altercations together with his troops and reached the Bosphorus, from where he went to Chalcedon and from there to Crisópolis, place of the final confrontation between the august ones.

Constantine's men arrived first on the battlefield and consequently had the initiative in the attacks.

Licino accompanied by images of the traditional pagan gods of Rome was on one side, while Constantine and his army carried the Christian labarum, which at that point caused great fear in the enemy.

Constantine's attack was frontal and the fighting lasted a long time. The consequence of the clash was an undoubted victory for the western emperor and losses in the numbers of Licino between 25,000 and 30,000 men.

Accompanied by what was left in his ranks (about 30,000 men), Licino left for Nicomedia and there he decided that his only alternative was to surrender to Constantine using his wife, Constancia, as a mediator.

Licino's life was briefly spared and his execution was then ordered, as was later done with Licino II, the son of the ancient Augustus of the East.

Constantinople

After eliminating Licino in 324, Constantine became the sole emperor of Rome, something that had not happened since the time of Diocletian.

The capital of the Roman Empire was moved to ancient Byzantium, which was renamed Constantinople (the city of Constantine). The founding of that city was made in the same year 324, but it was dedicated on May 11, 330 with great celebrations.

Constantine believed that taking the capital of the Empire to the east would finally create the integration of the Roman dominions under a single culture, in addition to providing security in terms of effective control of that area.

Likewise, he thought that it was propitious to cultivate Christianity in his eastern lands so that all the inhabitants could consider themselves equal within the Roman borders and finally end paganism.

The city was given some religious relics to be exhibited, among others: the ark of Moses and the true cross on which Christ was hung. Later it was said that Constantine had had visions of angels that indicated that Byzantium should be transformed into the new capital.

A cathedral dedicated to the apostles was also erected where the Temple of Aphrodite previously stood.

The city was usually referred to as "New Rome of Constantinople."

Final years

After the final victory, Constantine undertook a series of reforms. Among the most important changes was the removal of privileges to the knights of the equestrian order, which had established itself as the true ruling class over the aristocracy.

Another event that marked the final days of Constantine I was the execution of his eldest son, Crispus, and of Fausta, second wife and mother of the other male children of the Roman emperor.

The motives were not clarified, but it is believed that it could be the consequence of a ruse by Fausta.

According to some historians, the emperor's wife was jealous of the power of her stepson and thought that this could weaken her own children before Constantine in the face of succession.

That is why she made a suggestion to Crispus and was rejected, but she told her husband that the young man had been the one who proposed to lie next to her. Both died on the orders of Constantine in 326.

Other campaigns

In 332 Constantine I faced the Goths and two years later it was against the Sarmatians, who had deposed their own leaders. He had large numbers of the warriors join his own army and sent others to remote parts of the Empire as farmers.

Thanks to these military actions, Constantine realized one of his great dreams, to recover, at least in part, the region known as Roman Dacia, which had been abandoned for many years by the emperors.

Constantine had also carefully prepared a conflict with Persia to try to conquer those territories. He used the Christians persecuted by the shah as an excuse for his warlike pretensions.

In 335 he sent his son Constancio to guard the eastern frontier. The following year, Narseh invaded the client state of Armenia and installed a ruler who owed allegiance to the Persians.

Constantine began to prepare a battle against Persia to which he gave the characteristics of a crusade: bishops and a church-shaped tent were to accompany the army.

Although the Persians sent delegations trying to achieve peace, the war was only prevented by the illness of Constantine I.

Death

Constantine died on May 22, 337, near Nicomedia. It is thought that his illness began from Easter of the same year, after which his health declined rapidly, so he retired to Helenópolis to take thermal baths in the area.

However, being there it was clear to Constantine that his death was imminent, so instead of continuing to wait for a change in his destiny, he decided to hurry back to Constantinople.

He began to do catechesis and when he was near Nicomedia he called the bishops to request their baptism. Some think that he left that sacrament as one of the last actions of his life to try to purify all the sins he committed.

After his death, his mortal remains were transferred to Constantinople where he had secretly prepared a resting place for himself in the Church of the Holy Apostles.

The Death of Constantine the Great, by Peter Paul Rubens, via Wikimedia Commons.

He was succeeded by his three sons with Fausta: Constantine II, Constantius II and Constant. Several people who had blood ties to the late emperor were assassinated by his successors, who tried to keep the hereditary line clear.

Government of Constantine I

He kept the promises he had made to the Senate when he defeated Maxentius in Rome. He restored his privileges, which had little by little been usurped by the class of knights who generally controlled military power.

At the same time, he promoted the highest military officials to the rank of senator and established that an individual could become a member of the Senate by choosing him as a praetor or another position whose functions were in the senatorial rank.

However, effective power could only be exercised by those who had a certain imperial hierarchy, which pleased both of those involved in the dispute.

In the time of Constantine the pure argenteus that began to be coined in the time of Diocletian was put aside. The most popular coin was the solidus, made of gold. The materials to mint the coins came from things confiscated from pagan temples.

Others

In addition, Constantine I strengthened his relationship with the Christians, who not only obtained freedom of worship with the Edict of Milan of 313, but also obtained abundant financial aid from the Roman Empire.

Some far-reaching legal reforms were enacted by Constantine I, such as the fact that Jews could not circumcise their slaves, that those sentenced to death could not be branded in the face or crucified, a sentence that was commuted by hanging..

It also gave legal status to the right to celebrate the Passover and Sunday has since been established as a general day of rest in the Empire.

Christianity and Constantine I

Conversion

The conversion of Constantine to the Christian religion does not have a clear origin, some historians have affirmed that it could have been due to the early exposure to the cult on the part of his mother, Helena, who was of Greek origin.

Other accounts assure that it happened later, and that he accepted Jesus as the Messiah some time before the battle of the Milvian Bridge where his men began to wear the emblem "Ji Ro", which were the Greek initials of Christ.

However, it was in the Edict of Milan that he testified that his victories were due to his trust in Jesus. Emperor Constantine I performed the baptism a few moments before his death.

Government and church

Upon reaching the throne, he became the patron of the Christian religion with his contributions of legal protection and economic collaboration to the religion.

Constantine the Great and Saint Helena, by Fedor Solntsev, via Wikimedia Commons.

It provided funds, built churches, reduced taxes, and gave Christian professors access to better positions.

In addition, he restored properties that had been confiscated in previous times from the followers of Jesus Christ. However, more than half of its officials practiced Roman pagan customs, even until the end of the days of Constantine.

It has been said that the Christian religion was the most assimilable to the cult of the Undefeated Sun practiced by a large part of the Romans and that is why it was selected by Constantine to consolidate his new vision of the empire.

In 325 he collaborated in the First Council of Nicaea in which a consensus was reached regarding the fundamental dogmas of Christianity. Besides that, the first 20 canon laws were established there.

Influence

Constantine achieved important victories by arms, the greatest of which was the power to become the sole emperor of Rome.

He also triumphed against various barbarian peoples that rebelled such as the Franks and the Germans or the Visigoths and the Sarmatians, which allowed him to reconquer part of Roman Dacia.

He established, thanks to his victories, the foundations of the absolute and hereditary monarchy. For this, Christianity was extremely important and giving the church political power, which had as a further consequence the creation of concepts such as the divine right of a ruler.

Constantine is considered a saint by the Orthodox Church, in addition to giving him the rank of Isapostolos, which equates him to the Apostles of Christ.

References

En.wikipedia.org. (2019). Constantine the Great. Available at: en.wikipedia.org.
Donald MacGillivray, N. and Matthews, JF (2019). Constantine I - Biography, Accomplishments, Death, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. Available at: britannica.com.
BAIRD RATTINI, K. (2019). Who was Constantine ?. Nationalgeographic.com. Available atnationalgeographic.com.
Wright, D. (2019). Controversial Constantine - Christian History Magazine. Christian History Institute. Available at: christianhistoryinstitute.org.
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CONSTANTINE I: BIOGRAPHY, GOVERNMENT, WARS, DEATH - ARTE - 2025