|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Biographies: Constantine the Great
| |
|
Posted by Acumen on November 5 2004, 03:52 PM
|
Constantine the Great was one of the greatest emperors of Rome in its history, and he can certainly be called the greatest emperor of the later period without much trouble. Constantine ended the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire and many reforms that helped keep the Empire afloat.
Constantine’s date of birth is in heavy dispute, his life had a heavy impact. Constantine was born on February 27th, 271 (or 272 or 273 it is in dispute) in the city of Nassius in the province of Moesia Superior (modern Nish, Serbia). Constantine’s father was an important military official named Constantius (later Chorlus) and his mother was a woman of lowly birth named Helena, who may have been Constantius’ concubine, rather than his lawful wife. In 293 Diocletian organized the First Tetrarchy with Constantius being named Caesar, or junior emperor of the west. Maximian, the senior emperor told Constantius to marry his daughter in order to cement his position, this he did. Constantine was then sent to Diocletian’s (who had become senior emperor of the East) court to ensure his father’s continued good behavior. In 305 Diocletian stepped down as Augustus in the East and Maximian in the West did the same thing. As a result of this Constantius was named Augustus of the West and Galerius, the new eastern Augustus reluctantly allowed Constantine to go to his father’s side fighting the Picts in Britain. Constantine was suspicious of Galerius and traveled carefully, he arrived in Britain safe and sound and Constantius named him his heir. In 306 Constantius took ill after fighting the Picts at Ebucarum (modern York) and died on July 25th, immediately afterwards the soldiers proclaimed Constantine Augustus of the West, in accordance with Chorlus’ will. Constantine returned to the continent soon after and set his capital at Augusta Treverorum (modern Trier, Germany).
Constantine now began to consolidate and expand his power. Later that year Maxentius, son of Maximian seized power in Rome and was proclaimed Emperor, although he did not take the title of Augustus until later .In 307 Constantine took his father’s example and married a daughter of Maximian to better relations with Rome. In 308 Maximian and Diocletian called for a conference in Carnuntum to solve the pressing problems within the Empire. At this meeting Constantine was told to step down as Augustus and become a Caesar, he refused and left. In 310 as Constantine was fighting against the Franks in Germania Maximian in one last bold attempt to gain power (he tried unsuccessfully to usurp power from Maxentius) staged a revolt. Constantine immediately turned around and fought his father-in-law. Maximian retreated to Massilia in disorder and Constantine pursued him there. Maximian was able to get to Massilia first but was unable to mount an effective defense, when the city fell to Constantine he pardoned Maximian who attempted to have his daughter kill Constantine, who found it out and executed him (Another version holds that Maximian took his own life after being found out). With the death of Maximian relations between Constantine and Maxentius became incredibly strained. In 312 Constantine marched on Italy against Maxentius, who was supremely confident in that he would have the victory. After dealing with meager resistance in Augusta Taurinorum (modern Turin) and Verona, Constantine now marched to Rome unopposed. The night before crossing the Pons Milvius (Milvian Bridge) Constantine told his son’s tutor Lactatanius he had a dream were a mysterious sign appeared on the sun and under it was the words “IN HOC SIGNO VINCES” (In this sign wilt thou conquer). To Constantine this was a revelation; the sign on the sun was the monogram of the one the Christians called Christ, to whom he had been sympathetic, like his father. The next morning Constantine ordered all of his troops to paint the monogram on their shields, he also made a new Imperial standard called the Labarum. The Battle of Milvian Bridge later in the day was a truly great victory, for despite its size Maxentius’ army was unable to win. In the ensuing retreat Maxentius and thousands of his soldiers drowned in the river Tiber as the makeshift wooden bridges collapsed under the weight of the army trying to retreat across it. When Constantine marched in triumph into Rome he told his men that he victory was due solely to the “God of the Christians” and that was henceforth be an “Emperor of the Christians” saying that he would commit himself to that faith from then on. Constantine then placed the Labarum in the ceremonial position reserved for the personal standard of the Emperor and declared that all persecution of the Christians was over. In 313 Constantine met in Mediolanium (modern Milan) with Licinius (who had become the new Eastern Augustus following the death of Galerius in 311). At this meeting Constantine wed his half sister to Licinius to get him to agree to issue an edict of tolerance. This edict, called the Edict of Milan decreed that all religions are to be tolerated within the Roman Empire and no longer could anyone be persecuted for their religion.
With the passing of the edict of tolerance Constantine now concentrated on matters within. In the immediate aftermath of the Mediolanium meeting Constantine began to look to matters within the Christian Church. Constantine found out from his bishops that a movement called the Donatist Schism had gained power in the North African churches. Worried for the unity of the church Constantine convened a Synod (mass meeting of bishops) in Areles in Gaul to resolve the matter. The bishops decided to condemn the Donatist movement and ordered them to return to the church, the Donatists refused and Constantine brutally enforced the decision, but the Donatist movement was never fully extinguished. Constantine then began a building spree in Rome constructing both secular and ecclesial buildings. He had ordered an arch to be constructed to celebrate his triumphal entry into Rome after defeating Maxentius; this arch was completed just in time for the tenth anniversary of his acclamation (this arch, known as the Arch of Constantine is famous to this day). Constantine then completed the basilica in the Forum Romanum that Maxentius had left unfinished and built new baths on Quirinal Hill. Then of course Constantine constructed many churches, some of them are: The Basilica of St. John Lateran (were the famous Lateran Council got its name), the Basilica of St. Peter, and the Basilica of St. Sebastian on the Appian Way.
Now problems began to arise with Licinius. Despite the mutual good will displayed at Mediolanium, and even after Constantine wed his sister to him, relations with Licinius was respectfully cool at best. Trouble began arising after Constantine appointed his brother-in-law Bassianus as Caesar for Italy and the Danubian provinces. Licinius was deeply suspicious of this move and thought that Constantine was trying to gain even more power. Licinius was able to convince Bassianus to revolt against Constantine, which he did. Constantine put down the rebellion easily enough, and then he discovered Licinius’ involvement. Constantine declared war on Licinius and marched into Pannonia (modern Hungry). The two emperors clashed at Cibalae with Constantine emerging victorious from the battle. Licinius then tried to undermine Constantine by naming Aurelius Valerius Valens as the new Augustus of the West, this attempt failed and shortly thereafter Constantine and Licinius clashed again, this time at Campus Ardiensis in Thrace. This time around however there was no clear victor as both forces pulled back after a bloody stalemate. On March 1st, 317 Constantine and Licinius signed a treaty at Serdica (modern Sofia, Bulgaria), in the treaty Licinius handed over the territories of the Danube and all of the Balkans, save Thrace. Constantine in return appointed three new Caesars, his sons Crispus and Constantine as well as Licinius’ son, who bore his father’s name. It seemed that at last peace would come about in the Roman world, but it was not to be.
Another war erupted in 324, this time over religious as well as secular reasons. Starting in 320 Licinius began persecution of Christians within his territory anew, effectively repealing the Edict of Milan. In 322 Licinius also, out of suspicion of Constantine named himself and his two sons consuls for the East. In 323 Constantine named yet another Caesar, this time his third son, Constantius. Later that year Constantine, while fighting the Goths wandered into Thrace, taking this as a personal insult Licinius declared war in the spring of 324, and like before Constantine made the first move by marching on Hadrianoplis (Adrianople). In the ensuing battle Constantine once again was victorious over Licinius who fled over the Bosporus Straight, and blocked it with a garrison and a large fleet in the strategic city of Byzantion. Constantine had a fleet of his own and he drove off the fleet of Licinius. Constantine then crossed the Bosporus with his huge army and defeated Licinius in the battle of Chrysopolis. In this battle Licinius was captured by Constantine, who was begged to spare him by Constantia (Licinius’ wife and Constantine’s half sister). Constantine kept his word at first, then went back and executed Licinius and his son, in this way did Constantine become sole ruler of the Roman Empire.
With the defeat of Licinius Constantine brought in bolder reforms. Shortly after the execution of Licinius and Constantine’s ascension to the status of ruler of all of the Empire he began to introduce much bolder reforms in the area of religion in the fact that he completely banned pagan sacrifices and closed down all of the temples, using the money confiscated to begin a church building program. Gladiatorial combat was also outlawed and immorality everywhere was cracked down on. Constantine also completely overhauled the military into a better defensive force, concentrating largely on cavalry. Constantine also disbanded the Praetorian Guard, breaking its power for all time; he replaced it with a mounted guard called the Scholae Palatina. Constantine also passed a law stating that sons must follow into their father’s profession and he leveled a heavy tax every four years.
Constantine also began the building of a new capital during this time. About two months after the defeat of Licinius (November 8th, 324) Constantine had confided to those closest to him that the Empire needed a better capital, and a predominately Christian one at that. With this in mind Constantine traveled to the city of Byzantion and founded a new city on top of it, he called this new city Constantinopolis (The City of Constantine). Constantine wanted his city to rival the splendor of Rome, but with Christian churches dominating the city instead of pagan temples. Constantine of course realized that Rome was still important and made sure that the Senate of Constantinopolis was subservient to Rome’s Senate. He also made sure that Constantinopolis had plenty of grain to feed its people by diverting some of the Egyptian grain to Constantinopolis. Constantine oversaw the building of three great churches in Constantinopolis: the Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom), the Hagia Eirene (Holy Peace), and the Church of the Holy Apostles (actually whether he founded this church or not is debated). The city was officially dedicated on May 11th, 330.
In 325 Constantine began getting involved in the church. During this period arguments over the nature of God erupted all over the Empire. In an attempt to solve the problem Alexander, bishop of Alexandria called some of the local church officials together and they condemned the teachings of the priest Arius, whose ideas started the problem. To Constantine division within the church was intolerable and for this reason he called the first Ecumenical Council in history, the Council of Nicaea. On May 20, 325 the council officially opened and Constantine himself gave the opening speech. In the council the bishops (318 in total) formed the Nicene Creed as Christianity’s first definite statement of faith and the council also completely condemned Arius and his teachings for all time.
In 326 Constantine faced family troubles. Somewhere in 326 Constantine was alerted to the fact that his wife, Fausta was leveling charges against Crispus. Constantine was later told that Fausta was accusing her stepson of committing adultery with her. Constantine was now faced with a tough choice, he had passed a new law just the month before that if a man committed adultery with a married woman the penalty was death, but Constantine did not wish to kill his son, but also could he not afford to lose face in front of the whole Empire. So Constantine reluctantly ordered Crispus’ execution at what is now Pola, Istria. Some time later Helena came to Constantine and told him that Fausta had lied; Crispus was innocent of all charges. Constantine in a rage ordered Fausta’s execution, but Fausta had received advanced word about this and as a result she took her own life at Augusta Treverorum.
Shortly after the events surrounding the deaths of Crispus and Fausta, Helena left for the Holy Land. While on this famous pilgrimage Helena impressed everyone she met with her piety, humility, and charity. When she returned Helena recommend to Constantine that he should build churches in several places important in the life of Jesus. Constantine followed his mother’s advice and oversaw the building of the Church of the Nativity, the Church of Eleona, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
During all of this Constantine did not neglect his frontiers. In the autumn of 328 Constantine and his son Prince Constantine led their forces against the Alemanni tribe on the Rhine River. Starting in 332 and ending in 336 Constantine embarked on a campaign against the Goths; eventually he managed to drive them completely out of Dacia, bringing back Roman influence to the land that been Trajan’s greatest conquest. During this time Constantine raised his fourth son Constans and two nephews Flavius Dalmatius and Hannibalianus to the rank of Caesar. Constantine now began planning on the conquest of Sassanid Persia and in preparation put Hannibalianus on the throne of Armenia as Shahandshah, a title usually held by the Persian Emperor. But it all came to naught for on Easter day (April 3rd, 337) while in Helenopolis (which he had named for his mother) Constantine suddenly fell ill, feeling that he was going to die he asked to be baptized, this was done by Eusebius, an Arian who was Constantine’s spiritual advisor and bishop of Nicomedia while Constantine was on his death bed. Constantine the Great died on Pentecost (May 22nd, 337 AD).
Constantine the Great is remembered to this day by many historians as the man who helped delay the fall of the Western Roman Empire and founded the Eastern Roman Empire, which go on to last further thousand years. Constantine is remembered by Christians everywhere as the man who ended the horrible persecutions and made Christianity an important factor in the Empire. However you want to remember him Constantine I truly deserved the title “the Great”. |
User Comments:
No comments have been posted. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
