In the Agora: This Day in 312 A.D.

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October 28, 2005

This Day in 312 A.D.

Contrary to the advice of his military strategists, Constantine invaded Italy from Gaul and descended upon Rome in the fall of 312 A.D. His target was Maxentius, Casaer of the East and claimant to Augustus' title. Constantine's move could have been foolish, because if Maxentius had stayed behind Rome's walls he probably could have withstood a lengthy siege. But Maxentius went forth instead and was defeated on this day in 312 while crossing the Tiber over the Milvian Bridge.

Twenty five years later Bishop Eusebius recalled that Constantine mentioned a vision he had had of a cross in the sky bearing the legend "By this conquer." Another Christian author, writing earlier, said that Constantine had had a dream. Constantine himself claimed to have an experience of conversion, but he never mentioned a vision or a dream. Either way, the "Battle of Milvian Bridge" is generally regarded as a turning point in Christian history - the beginning of the official recognition of Christianity by the Roman Empire.

Why did Constantine embrace Christianity, and how fully did he understand what he had done? Politically speaking, his course would seem like sheer folly, since at the time less than one-tenth of the population in the West were Christians. For someone who came to rule in an already turbulent period with festering religious feuds, it almost seems suicidal.

There may be some truth in the story that Constantine believed Jehovah would guide him to victory. He gave up the claim to divinity and in church disputes that would soon arise he often played the role of a humble servant. Whatever his motivation Constantine's conversion and the Battle of Milvian Bridge forever changed the course of human history.

Posted by Joshua Claybourn at October 28, 2005 01:52 AM

Comments

One of the interesting aspects of Constantine's conversion was that he went from sun worship to Son worship. The transition from solar monotheism, the most popular form of paganism of Constantine's time, to Christianity was not as difficult as you might imagine. (Of course the Calvinist in me knows that, like all conversions, it was trivial seeing how the one converted had nothing to do with it.) Consider the following (as enumerated by Chadwick, The Early Church, Penguin, 1967).

1) In Old Testament prophecy, Christ was not only the "son" but also the "sun" of righteousness:

But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (Mal. 4:2)

2) Clement of Alexandria speaks of Christ driving his chariot across the sky like the sun god.

3) A mosaic in a tomb, recently found at Rome, probably made early in the fourth century, depicts Christ as the sun god mounting the heavens with his chariot.

4) Tertulian says that many pagans imagined the Christians worshiped the sun because they met on Sundays and prayed towards the east.

5) Moreover, in the fourth century there began in the West the celebration of December 25, the birthday of the sun god at the winter solstice as the date for the nativity of Christ.

Just some food for thought.

Posted by: David Heddle at October 28, 2005 07:19 AM | permalink

Given that State recognition of Christianity rapidly led to State establishment of Christianity and all the abuses that came with a too close relationship between Church and State, perhaps one could argue that Constantine's vision was a satanic counterfeit.

David Heddle:

Tertulian says that many pagans imagined the Christians worshiped the sun because they met on Sundays and prayed towards the east.

That is perhaps relevant to the origin of the English word Easter. It is often argued that Easter derives from the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre, but an alternative is that it comes from the word "east," which apparently means the same in modern English and Old English. It could refer to celebrations of Christ's resurrection as the sun rises in the east on Easter Sunday.

Posted by: Nick at October 28, 2005 09:37 AM | permalink

Early Christianity was indifferent, or even hostile, to the state. Subsequently it has suffered from a long line of politicians and popes who have successfully manipulated, coopted, and corrupted it for the sake of their own ends. Constantine may have been the first to do so, and George W. Bush is one of the most recent.

Posted by: Ron at October 28, 2005 10:56 AM | permalink

"Subsequently, it has sufered from a long line of politicians and popes..."

Ah, the undying Protestant libel. Be more charitable to the Grand Inquisitor. He has a point, after all.

Posted by: Paul at October 28, 2005 10:58 AM | permalink

Thinking of Christianity as a meme, an idea that is replicated and distributed in a viral fashion, its "infection" of Constantine and, therefore, Rome was its big break. Its original host eventually died, but not before it was transmitted to healthier bodies politic.