The emperor went at least one step further when he withdrew his statue from the pagan temples, forbade the repair of temples that had fallen into decay, and suppressed offensive forms of worship. The Christians especially exerted themselves to get possession of such foundlings, and consequently Constantine issued no direct prohibition of exposure, although the Christians regarded exposure as equal to murder; he commanded, instead, that foundlings should belong to the finder, and did not permit the parents to claim the children they had exposed. He may have been Christian since 312 when he won the Battle at the Milvian Bridge, although the accompanying medallion showing him with the Sol Invictus deity a year later raises questions. This body of soldiers, known as palatini, comitatenses, which had taken the place of the Praetorian Guard, numbered not quite 200,000 men (sometimes given as 194,500). . Asked why he did so, he responded that he was following an invisible, presumably angelic guide. Other concubinatus besides those mentioned were placed at a disadvantage in regard to property, and the rights of inheritance of the children and the concubines were restricted. In the same way religious freedom and tolerance could not continue as a form of equality, the age was not ready for such a conception. No doubt he was endowed with a strong religious sense, was sincerely pious, and delighted to be represented in an attitude of prayer, with his eyes raised to heaven. His maxim was: "Cesset superstitio; sacrificiorum aboleatur insania" (Let superstition cease; let the folly of sacrifices be abolished). 1-12. But he now saw that further resistance was useless. Elizabeth I was a long-ruling queen of England, governing with relative stability and prosperity for 44 years. Herbermann, C., & Grupp, G. (1908). by T. G. Elliott; Phoenix, Vol. But in this he only continued what earlier emperors, under the influence of Stoicism, had begun before him, and he left to his successors the actual work of their emancipation. The laws forbidding such practices continually multiplied, but the greater part of the burden of saving the children fell on the Church. Constantine joined his father, under whom he had just time to distinguish himself in Britain before death carried off Constantius (25 July, 306). Instead of imperial, the word sacred had now always to be used. The "Great Persecution" of the Persian Christian churches occurred in a later period, 340-363, after the Persian Wars that reopened upon Constantine's death. Both were gradually set aside; Crispus was executed on the charge of immorality made against him by Constantine's second wife, Fausta. Historical appreciation Nor had he absolutely rejected the thought even after a miraculous event had strongly influenced him in favour of the God of the Christians. The opposing forces met near the bridge over the Tiber called the Milvian Bridge, and here Maxentius' troops suffered a complete defeat, the tyrant himself losing his life in the Tiber (28 October, 312). Since the Roman Emperors ruled by "divine right" and stayed in power through the support of the legions, it was important for them to be seen to support a strong state religion. The God of the Christians was indeed a jealous God who tolerated no other gods beside him. Constantine himself was sent to the court of Diocletian, the Eastern Roman emperor. During the joint reign Licinianus, the son of Licinius, and Crispus, the son of Constantine, had been the two Caesars. He remained a catechumen to the end of his life, but not because he lacked conviction nor because, owing to his passionate disposition, he desired to lead a pagan life. (Constantine actually resisted baptism until he was on his deathbed.) Still he avoided any direct interference with dogma, and only sought to carry out what the proper authorities--the synods--decided. The Arian Controversy and the Council of Nicea, Constantinople: Capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, Timelines and Chronologies of Roman Emperors, Roman Empire: Battle of the Milvian Bridge, M.A., Linguistics, University of Minnesota. My email address is webmaster at newadvent.org. In Gaul, Britain, and Spain, where Constantius Chlorus ruled, peace and contentment prevailed, and the prosperity of the provinces visibly increased, while in the East prosperity was undermined by the existing confusion and instability. Constantius was an unwavering opponent of paganism; he closed all the temples and forbade sacrifices under pain of death. In the same way religious freedom and tolerance could not continue as a form of equality, the age was not ready for such a conception. A man could put away his wife for adultery, poisoning, and pandering, and retain her dowry, but if he discarded her for any other cause, he was to return the dowry and was forbidden to marry again. A good postal service maintained constant communication between the different parts of the empire. Although, there is scholarly debate on how "Christian" Constantine's rule actually was, as some scholars believe that he continued to pay heed to mythological divinities and pagan ceremonies. He obeyed as strictly as possible the precepts of Christianity, observing especially the virtue of chastity, which his parents had impressed upon him; he respected celibacy, freed it from legal disadvantages, sought to elevate morality, and punished with great severity the offenses against morals which the pagan worship bad encouraged. Service at court was termed militia, "military service". The civil and military administration were, perhaps, somewhat more sharply divided than before, but an equally increased importance was laid on the military capacity of all state officials. N.S. Diocletian's personality is full of contradictions; he was just as crude in his religious feelings as he was shrewd and far-seeing in state affairs; a man of autocratic nature, but one who, under certain circumstances, voluntarily set bounds to himself. In the same manner the emperors allowed themselves to be venerated as holy oracles and deities, and everything connected with them was called sacred. While he chose bishops for his counsellors, they, on the other hand, often requested his intervention-- e.g. In addition, the tribes living on the frontiers were taken into the pay of the State as allies, many cities were fortified, and new fortresses and garrisons were established, bringing soldiers and civilians more into contact, contrary to the old Roman axiom. Licinius was routed and Constantine became sole Emperor of Rome. Constantine was in Helenopolis, planning a campaign against Persia when he fell ill. First, Constantine adopted Christianity as the State religion of the Roman Empire. Licinius strengthened the garrison of Byzantium so that an attack seemed likely to result in failure and the only hope of taking the fortress lay in a blockade and famine. Shortly before his death Constantine confirmed the privileges of the priests of the ancient gods. After Maxentius' defeat, Constantine and his brother-in-law, Licinius, split the empire between them. 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