Title: Constantine I: Contributions to Christianity and Other Accomplishments
Headings: Constantine I: Contributions to Christianity and Other Accomplishments
Constantine I: Contributions to Christianity and Other Accomplishments
Roman emperor Constantine’s victory at the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD and the accompanying conversion to Christianity is considered to be one of the crucial events in Western history. Yet, the genuineness and completeness of Constantine’s conversion has been under scrutiny for several centuries now. Why?
Constantine and Christianity
Constantine’s Sincerity in Conversion
Contradictions of Constantine, the Christian
Constantine, the Interventionist
Constantinople, the Eastern Capital
Embracing the Diocletian’s Reforms
Common Questions about Constantine I
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Content: Constantine was so much in love with the city that he shamelessly looted existing cities and monuments to beautify his new capital. He even went to the extent of moving the sacred tripod and statue of Apollo from the hallowed Greek Sanctuary of Delphi to the new capital. He also constructed a number of important churches in the city, including the first version of the Hagia Sophia. Embracing the Diocletian’s Reforms
Not only did Constantine enthusiastically embrace most of the reforms, he went one step ahead to develop, strengthen, and further institutionalize them. Dismayed by the existing system, he was keen to refine and reform certain regular measures, thus laying the foundation for a model government that future emperors would follow. He considered reforms in the military an important necessity and restructured the military, with emphasis on increasing the size and role of mobile cavalry forces. And though he continued with the old economic policies, he made concerted efforts to stabilize the currency. He also increased the number of senators to improve administration, but blurred the previous distinctions between senators and equestrians. Although all of Constantine’s policies were very effective, he cannot be considered as a revolutionary as he was merely following precedent. Yet Constantine wanted to rule alone and did not make any effort to revive the tetrarchy system created by Diocletian.