Remembering Constantine at the Milvian BridgeConstantine's victory in 312 at the battle of the Milvian Bridge established his rule as the first Christian emperor. This book examines the creation and dissemination of the legends about that battle and its significance. Christian histories, panegyrics and an honorific arch at Rome soon commemorated his victory, and the emperor himself contributed to the myth by describing his vision of a cross in the sky before the battle. Through meticulous research into the late Roman narratives and the medieval and Byzantine legends, this book moves beyond a strictly religious perspective by emphasizing the conflicts about the periphery of the Roman empire, the nature of emperorship and the role of Rome as a capital city. Throughout late antiquity and the medieval period, memories of Constantine's victory served as a powerful paradigm for understanding rulership in a Christian society. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 6 | |
THE AFTERLIFE OF CONSTANTINE | 19 |
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORIES | 33 |
CONSTANTINES MEMORIES | 56 |
EUSEBIUS COMMENTARY | 82 |
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Common terms and phrases
Ammianus Marcellinus anniversary arch army Augustus Aurelius Victor baptism Basilica bishop of Rome Byzantine Caesaribus campaigns capital celebrated century Chapter Christian emperor christogram Church of St churchmen claimed commemorated Constan Constantine’s reign Constantine’s victory Constantine's vision Constantinople construction council of Nicaea Crispus cross death dedication depicted Diocletian divine dream earlier early Ecclesiastical History emperor emperorship empire episodes Eunapius Eusebius Evagrius father Flaminian frontier Galerius Gaul Greek hence highlighted Historia nova historians imperial rule included initial interpretive Italy Jesus Christ Julian Lactantius later Latin legends letter Licinius Magnentius Maxentius Maximian Maximinus memories military standard Milvian Bridge monuments mortibus persecutorum Moses narrative Nazarius Nicomedia North Africa northern orator pagan panegyric Panegyrici latini panels perhaps persecution perspective Porfyrius religious Roman Rufinus seemed senators Silvester soldiers Sozomen stantine statue stories subsequent symbol Tetrarchic Tetrarchic emperors theology traditional Trier troops Vetranio victory over Licinius victory over Maxentius Vita Constantini Zosimus