Comparison Of Constantine's Vision And Christianity

Constantine’s Vision and Christianity Constantine claimed later to have had a vision while on the campaign from Trier to Rome (309-310 AD), the night before battle. He supposedly saw in a dream the 'Chi-Ro', the symbol of Christ, shining above the sun, believing it to be a divine sign for god; it believed that Constantine had his soldiers paint the symbol on their shields. In Hoc Signo Vinae or “conquer by this sign.” was the inscription. That night, in the dream, he received an explanation of the sign - Christ appeared before him telling him to carry the sign of the cross into battle. With his newfound faith, Constantine became the victor during the Battle of Milvian Bridge by defeating a stronger army by number but they were inexperienced

Upon finding his faith and becoming the Senior Augustus, he started to do more for the church and the religion. Constantine saw himself as an “Emperor of the Christian people”. As time went on Constantine should become ever more involved with the Christian church. He appeared at first to have very little understanding of the basic beliefs governing Christian faith. Nevertheless, gradually he must have become more acquainted with them, to the point that he sought to resolve theological disputes among the church itself. In 313, after converting to Christianity, Constantine started to grant various favors to the Christian clergy and community. He extended his patronage and having legislation made to favor to the Christian communities throughout his empire. However, the price for Constantine’s generous patronage was Caesaropapism; monarchical control over the Church (State over church). Constantine, Christianity did not unite the empire as he had hoped. During his reign as emperor, he had to mediate in various religious disputes between the Donatists and Arianism. The First Council of Nicaea happened is 325 AD to resolve the dispute over Arianism. This would set a precedent for all of the future emperors when

Both Emperors proclaimed the Edict of Milan, in which Constantine and Licinius granted Christians the freedom to practice their faith without any interference from the state 313 AD. The first war between the East and West came to a drawl and both armies retreated to lick their wounds. Between 315 and 316 AD Constantine engaged different campaigns against the Germans while residing it Trier. Licinius was believed to be raging war against the Goths and preparing for war against his brother-in-law Constantine. The second civil war broke in 321 while in pursuit some Sarmatians, who had been ravaging some territory across the Danube River. This is when Licinus accused Constantine of breaking the treaty between them. With Constantine advanced toward Adrianople. Licinius engaged the forces of his brother-in-law near the banks of the Hebrus River on July 324 where he was routed; with as many men as he could gather, he headed for Hellespont, where his fleet was at the time under admiral Abantus who was destroyed bad weather and Constantine’s son Crispus. The soldiers of Licinius, who were not killed or put to flight surrendered to the enemy. Licinius fled to Byzantium, where Constantine’s army overwhelmed him making him retreat to Bithynia. Licinius regrouped his army and prepared to engage his enemy at Chrysopolis where he was again routed on 18 September 324. He fled to