Constantine the EmperorNo Roman emperor had a greater impact on the modern world than did Constantine. The reason is not simply that he converted to Christianity, but that he did so in a way that brought his subjects along after him. Indeed, this major new biography argues that Constantine's conversion is but one feature of a unique administrative style that enabled him to take control of an empire beset by internal rebellions and external threats by Persians and Goths. The vast record of Constantine's administration reveals a government careful in its exercise of power but capable of ruthless, even savage, actions. Constantine executed (or drove to suicide) his father-in-law, two brothers-in-law, his eldest son, and his once beloved wife. An unparalleled general throughout his life, planning a major assault on the Sassanian Empire in Persia even on his deathbed. Alongside the visionary who believed that his success came from the direct intervention of his God resided an aggressive warrior, a sometimes cruel partner, and an immensely shrewd ruler. These characteristics combined together in a long and remarkable career, which restored the Roman Empire to its former glory. Beginning with his first biographer Eusebius, Constantine's image has been subject to distortion. More recent revisions include John Carroll's view of him as the intellectual ancestor of the Holocaust (Constantine's Sword) and Dan Brown's presentation of him as the man who oversaw the reshaping of Christian history (The Da Vinci Code). In Constantine the Emperor, David Potter confronts each of these skewed and partial accounts to provide the most comprehensive, authoritative, and readable account of Constantine's extraordinary life. |
Contents
INTRODUCTION | 1 |
PART 1 IMPERIAL RESURRECTION | 5 |
PART 2 DIOCLETIAN | 29 |
PART 3 CONSTANTINE AND DIOCLETIAN | 65 |
PART 4 FATHERS AND SONS | 105 |
PART 5 THE ROAD TO ROME | 129 |
PART 6 WAR AND PEACE | 161 |
PART 7 TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY | 205 |
EPILOGUE | 292 |
FINDING CONSTANTINE | 301 |
TIMELINE | 307 |
DRAMATIS PERSONAE | 311 |
NOTES | 317 |
347 | |
361 | |
PART 8 RULER OF THE WORLD | 249 |
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Common terms and phrases
Ablabius Africa Antioch Anullinus appears Arius army Athanasius Augustus Aurelian authority Balkans Barnes Bassus battle bishop Caecilian Caesar campaign Carinus century Christian church civic claim Claudius Constantine Constantinople Constantius II consul Corcoran 2000a council court Crispus Dalmatius death defeat Diocletian discussion divine Donatist earlier edict Egypt emperor empire Eusebius Eusebius of Nicomedia Evagrius evidence father Fausta Flavius Galerius Gallienus Gaul gods Greek Helena imperial important issue Italy Kuhoff Lact Lactantius later letter Licinius Majorian Marcus Aurelius marriage Maxentius Maximian Maximinus Maximus Mensurius Milvian Bridge Minervina munera named Nicaea Nicomedia Numerian Odaenathus officials pagan palace persecution Persian person PLRE praetorian prefect priest regime reign rescripts role Roman Rome ruling sacrifice Sapor Seeck seems senior Severus significant slaves Sol Invictus soldiers status story strategos suggests surviving things tion tradition Trier Valerian Vict victory vision