Constantine And Christianity Essay

The new faith that brought a message and established the resurrection of Jesus Christ was the faith that Constantine adopted as a child from his mother. Christianity during Constantine’s reign established much dominance over other religions and was the main reason for influence of the Christian. Christianity in the Roman world had many perils from gladiatorial battles, to forms of charity which affected the Roman world for good (McGiffert, 34). Charity became with

Constantine roll the roman empire from 306 through 337 c e. Under his rule as emperor he decreed that anyone involved in growing, preparation, and transportation best food and other essentials now have careers as farmers. During the civil war in 312 CE Roman Emperor Constantine wonder or question what God would bring him victory. The day before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, Constantine looked up to the sky and saw the Christian cross. He also had a dream that told him that he was going to won the way, but he had to fight under labarum. Constantine was Rome's first Christian emperor.

Constantine is best remembered in modern times for the Edict of Milan in 313, which fully legalized Christianity in the empire for the first time. Constantine’s edict gave Christians the right to openly practice their faith. Until then, they had met in the homes of fellow believers. Within a year of edit, Constantine ordered the building of churches throughout the empire. Although some Christians were very worried about the future of the churches if it became too close with the empire. The only people edit mentioned by name were the Christian, and the laws that came afterwards radically limited the rights of Jews as citizens of the Roman Empire.

Founder of Constantinople, Constantine claimed the great Byzantine Empire and in turn inherited the new Holy Roman Empire. With the Edict of Milan in 313, Constantine proclaimed religious tolerance of Christians throughout the empire and soon the religion spread. Constantine then transformed the city of Byzantium into the new capital of the Roman Empire, which then was known and proclaimed as Constantinople. The new capital would profit from its location being closer to the east frontier, having then the advantage of better trading, and a militarily sound location being protected on three sides by water.

The life of Constantine, a Roman emperor from 306 to 337 AD, is explained by two different accounts that differ from each other. The first one that was written by Eusebius in 337 AD states that Constantine is a victorious, pious emperor who helps others and orders the construction of sacred places to honor Christ. The second account was written in 520 AD by Zosimus and it states that Constantine is an impious, arrogant and selfish emperor who is responsible of the Roman Empire’s collapse.

Licinius would go on to challenge Constantine, but would not come out victorious and Constantine gained control over Greece and the Balkans. When Licinius again would go up against it would be his last time. Licinius would lose his throne and ultimately his life. Constantine was now ruler of the Eastern and Western Roman Empire, and in a reign of peace he set about rebuilding the strength of old Rome. Constantine strived to unify and strengthen Christianity. Constantine credited his success to his conversion to Christianity and the support of the Christian God. He wrote that he was God’s chosen instrument for suppression and proclaimed that, aided by the power of God, he came to bring peace and prosperity to all the lands. Constantine’s adherence

Constantine the Great was a Roman Emperor from 306-337 AD. He was a soldier who arduously worked to climb through the ranks, working through a civil war to become emperor. He is most famous for establishing a new capital where Byzantium once was, and named the new establishment “Constantinople.” However, Constantine is most famous for becoming Roman Emperor who converted to Christianity in his forties. His mother, Helen, was a Christian and ultimately decided to convert after believing that the Christian god had helped him in his success though the war. He enacted the Edict of Milan in the third century with his co-emperor Licinius, and officially declared Christianity legal. This document was one of the most significant and important writings of the time because it declares that Christians could freely practice religion.

Constantine the Great was a Roman Emperor who was born on the 27th of February, 272 AD. Constantine's father Constantius Chlorus was the western European emperor, but after his death, Constantine fought for

Eight years after Constantine's birth, Emperor Diocletian issued a new type of government: a tetrarchy, or “rule of four”. This tetrarchy split the government in two, and consisted of Maximian, a strong military commander, ruling the west, and Diocletian himself ruling the east. Galerius, a soldier of Rome, and Constantius Chlorus, Constantine's father, served as co-Caesars. It was in the east that Constantine happened to work as a member of the Imperial Court. So, it comes as no surprise that there is where he probably had his first encounters with Christianity in court circles and in the cities of the east. Diocletian and Galerius, on the other hand, dealt with Christianity almost constantly, but with their beliefs firmly rooted withing paganism, they were the ones who persecuted the Christians. For these men the state of mind toward state and God between Christianity and roman paganism were polar opposites: “In the Roman mind, religion was a government department, and it was the duty of the government to maintain favor in the eyes of the gods. From the Christian point of view there was a distinct difference between God and emperor, and the former had priority. Pagans saw Christians as a dangerous threat to the crown. Christians simply wanted relief from persecution (Willems, Katharine. “Constantine and Christianity: The Formation of the Christian State Church”)”; Diocletian was

Shortly after Constantius’s death, Constantine participated in a war against the Franks where he earned his first shot on the spotlight. He bravely killed two Frankish rulers. Constantine wasn’t only courageous; he was also known for his compassionate and religious personality. Donald L. Wasson, Ancient/Medieval History and U. S. History teacher at Lincoln College, explains Constantine’s reputation in the article Constantine 1 as he says, “Slowly he gained the respect of the army, demonstrating to his men, even those older and more experienced, they could trust him.” Soon after the death of the father, many members of Constantine’s family declared themselves as Augustus of Western Rome. It was passed onto Severus; but Constantine and Galerius

Constantine researched on emperors before him and saw reasons for their demise with a dishonorable end. Worshipping multiple gods had led to the downfall of the ones who led before him. Reilly states, “While engaged in enquiry, the thought occurred to him that of the many emperors who had preceded him, those who had rested their hopes in a multitude of gods, and served them with sacrifices... had met with an unhappy end” (248). However, the one whom he had realized to his provider and Shelter and the successful one among most was his father who served one supreme being. Reilly says, “While one alone, Constantine’s father who had pursued an entirely opposite course, who had condemned their error and honored the Supreme God during his whole life had found him to be Saviour and Protector of his Empire. and the giver of everything good” (248).

The vision, however, differs between the sources reporting it. Lactantius stated that Constantine did not have a direct vision in the sky, rather he simply had a dream. Needless to say, whatever story of the vision may or may not be true, this battle had shown his confidence in mens divina (divine mind), because it was there that Constantine became a supporter of Christianity. In 313, Constantine declared that Christians should be able to have the freedom and worship whomever they desire in peace. This was stated in The Edict of Milan, signed by Constantine and Licinius, which proclaimed the religious toleration and

In addition, there were prominent figure during this time that also aided in the growth of Christianity. One person who aided to the growth of Christianity was Constantine. Constantine was a Emperor of the Western Roman Empire and was the first emperor to publicly convert to Christianity in 312 AD. Constantine conversion was prompted before going into war he was Alerted by a vision that the Christian God is on his side, Constantine

Although the rise of Christianity to dominate western religions may have been undeniable, there were key moments that helped secure this position for Christianity. The rise of the constantinian Dynasty was one of those key moments. During the 4th century, Constantine rose to emperor in the west after the death of his father. Never the less, constantinian and his brother in law Maxentius who was also his co-emperor in the west were rivals. There was a lot of hostility between them and a war broke out after years of political backstabbing. Before they met in the battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 AD, Constantine apparently had saw the sign of Christ in his dream. Several years later, Eusebius gives an account in which Christ appeared to Constantine and told him to place the heavenly sign on the battle standards of his army. Armed with this holy power, Constantine destroyed Maxentius and there for becoming the only western Emperor.

Christianity’s history is filled with division, controversy, and conflict. One of the most important people who contributed to the lasting success of this diverse religion was Constantine. While legalizing Christianity in Roman society, he founded the capital of the eastern Roman Empire, Constantinople. Because of this and other great accomplishments, Constantine appropriately earned the name Constantine the Great.