REL 1350 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: In Hoc Signo Vinces, Constantinian Dynasty, Labarum
Document Summary
Christianity: the official religion of the roman empire. While the rise of christianity to dominate western religion may very well have been inevitable, certain key moments along the way helped secure this position. The arrival of the constantinian dynasty was one such moment. In the early 4th century, 306 ad, constantine rose to emperor in the west upon the death of his father constantius. However, he and his brother-in-law, and co-emperor in the west, maxentius were bitter rivals. Open hostility and war broke out between the two after several years of political scheming. Before the two met in the fateful battle of the milvian bridge in 312 ad, constantine supposedly had a vision of the sign of christ in a dream. Eusebius gives an account several years later in which christ appeared to constantine and instructed him to place the heavenly sign on the battle standards of his army.
