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C onstantine. Connor Johnson. Life of Constantine. named Flavius Valerius Constantinus was born in the military city of Naissus in 27 February around 272 AD Constantius was an officer in the Roman army was Roman emperor from 306 until his death in 337.
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Constantine Connor Johnson
Life of Constantine • named Flavius Valerius Constantinus • was born in the military city of Naissus in 27 February around 272 AD • Constantius was an officer in the Roman army • was Roman emperor from 306 until his death in 337. • Best known for being the first Christian Roman emperor and moving the capital to Byzantium, calling it Constantinople.
Life of Constantine • He was the son of Helena, an inn keeper's daughter, and Constantius Chlorus. It is unclear if the two were married, so Constantine may have been an illegitimate child. • When in Constantius Chlorus in AD 293 was elevated to the rank of Caesar, Constantine became a member of the court of Diocletian. • Constantine proved himself as an officer when serving under ‘Diocletian's Caesar Galerius’ against the Persians.
Rise to Power • When Constantius Chlorus in AD 306 died of illness at Ebucarum, the troops hailed Constantine as the new Augustus. • At the Conference of Carnuntum in AD 308, where all the Caesars and Augusti met, demanded that Constantine give up his title of Augustus and return to being a Caesar. He refused.
Rise to Power • Not long after the conference, Constantine was successfully campaigning against Germans when he was told that Maximian, his father in law, who was still residing at his court, had turned against him. • Maximian was now was seeking to take away Constantine's throne. • Denying Maximian any time to organize his defense, Constantine marched his legions into Gaul. All Maximian could do was flee to Massilia. • Constantine did not relent and laid siege to the city. Maximian either committed suicide or was executed (AD 310)
Rise to Power • With Galerius dead in AD 311 the main authority amongst the emperors had been removed, leaving them to struggle for dominance. • In AD 312 Constantine invaded Italy. Maxentius is believed to have had up to four times as many troops, but they were inexperienced and undisciplined. • After winning battles at Augusta Taurinorum (Turin) and Verona, Constantine marched on Rome.
Christian influence • Constantine later claimed to have had a vision on the way to Rome, during the night before battle. • In this dream he supposedly saw the 'Chi-Ro', the symbol of Christ, shining above the sun. which he was told to conquer by. • Seeing this as a divine sign, Constantine had his soldiers paint the symbol on their shields. • Following this Constantine went on to defeat the numerically stronger army of Maxentius at the Battle at the Milvian Bridge (Oct AD 312).
Christian influence • Constantine saw this victory as directly related to the vision he had had the night before. Henceforth Constantine saw himself as an 'emperor of the Christian people’ • But Constantine, who only had himself baptized on his deathbed, is generally understood as the first Christian emperor of the Roman world.
Rise to Power • With his victory over Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge, Constantine became the dominant figure in the empire. • The senate warmly welcomed him to Rome and the two remaining emperors, Licinius and Maximinus II Daia could do little else but agree to his demand that he henceforth should be the senior Augustus.
Rise to Power • in AD 313 Licinius defeated Maximinus II Daia. This left only two emperors. • At first both tried to live peacefully aside each other, Constantine in the west, Licinius in the east. • Then Constantine appointed his brother-in-law Bassianus as Caesar for Italy. • If Bassianus was indeed Constantine's puppet it would have ment a serious gain of power by Constantine. • To prevent his opponent from yet further increasing his power, Licinius persuaded Bassianus to revolt against Constantine in AD 314
Rise to Power • in AD 316 Constantine attacked with his forces. • In July or August at Cibalae in Pannonia he defeated Licinius larger army, forcing his opponent to retreat. • While this conflict ended in a treaty, it shows an opening to other conflicts between the east and west empires • in AD 323 a reason was soon found to start a new civil war. Constantine, while campaigning against Gothic invaders, strayed into Licinius' Thracian territory.
A Sole Emperor • On 3 July AD 324 he severely defeated Licinius' forces at Hadrianopolis and shortly after his fleet won victories at sea. • Then battle of Chrysopolis where he utterly defeated Licinius (18 September AD 324). Licinius was imprisoned and later executed. • Constantine was sole emperor of the entire Roman world.
Reforms • after his victory in AD 324 he outlawed pagan sacrifices, now feeling far more at liberty to enforce his new religious policy. • Gladiatorial contests were outlawed and harsh new laws were issued prohibiting sexual immorality. • Jews in particular were forbidden from owning Christian slaves.
Reforms • Edicts were passed by which the sons were forced to take up the professions of their fathers. • Under Constantine, any girl who ran away with her lover was burned alive. Rapists were burned at the stake. But also their women victims were punished, if they had been raped away from home. according to Constantine, should have no business outside the safety of their own homes. • These reforms show Constantine's strict brutality and adherence to his religious laws.
Constantinople • Constantine is also famous for the city which came to bear his name, Constantinople. • He came to the conclusion that Rome had ceased to be a practical capital for the empire from which the emperor could exact effective control over its frontiers. • Then he decided on the ancient Greek city of Byzantium. on 8 November AD 324 Constantine created his new capital there
Constantinople • the new senate founded in Constantinople was of a lower rank, but he intended it to be the center of the Roman world. • Measures to encourage its growth were introduced, most importantly the diversion of the Egyptian grain supplies, which had traditionally gone to Rome, to Constantinople. • granting every citizen a guaranteed ration of grain.
Heirs • In AD 333 Constantine's fourth son Constans was raised to the rank of Caesar, alongside his brothers, to jointly inherit the empire. • Evidently they also were intended to be granted their shares of power at Constantine's death. • How, after his own experience, Constantine saw it possible that all five of these heirs should rule peaceably alongside each other, is hard to understand.
Constantine • Constantine's reign was that of a hard, utterly determined and ruthless man. • this shows when in AD 326, on suspicion of adultery or treason, he had his own eldest son Crispus executed. • Constantine died on 22 May AD 337 at the imperial villa at Ankyrona. • On his death bed he had himself baptized
Constantine • The Roman senate still decided on his deification. A strange decision as it elevated him, the first Christian emperor, to the status of an old pagan deity.
Important Quotes • "In hoc signo vinces" -In this sign shalt thou conquer
Sources • Tierney, Michael. “Constantine the Great and His City.” An Irish Quarterly Review 23.89 (Mar. 1934): 59-70. JSTOR. Vasser Woolley Lib., The Lovett School Atlanta Georgia. 10 April 2010 <http://www.jstor.org/stable/30095108>. • Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner’s Art Through the Ages: A Global History. Thirteenth ed. Boston: Thomson Higher Education, 2009 • Lendering, Jona. “Constantine the Great.” LIVIUS: Articles on Ancient History. 1995. Ancient Warfare Magazine. 10 April 2010 < http://www.livius.org/cn-cs/constantine/constantine.html>.
