The Effects Of The Reforms Of Constantin

Essay, Research Paper

Constantine I was perhaps most well known for being the first Christian emperor of the

Roman Empire. His instigation of the conversion of the entire Roman Empire from paganism to

Christianity also ensured him recognition in history. For all intents and purposes, Constantine was

the single ruler of the Roman Empire from 324 to 337 AD. His reign was perhaps the most

distinctive out of all of Rome?s emperors, insofar as having an impact on the course of the future

of Europe, and ultimately, the greater part of the earth, for he implemented changes that remain to

this day. The resulting alteration of the nature of the Empire had direct ramifications on the

cultures with which it dealt, and those which spurred from its collapse, lasting even today.

Constantine I was the son of Constantius Chlorus and Helena, and was born on February

27, of either 272 or 273 AD. in Serbia. Upon his father becoming Caesar in 293 AD.,

Constantine was sent as a hostage to Emperor Galerius, to ensure Constantius? own appropriate

behaviour. Constantine later returned to his father?s side when Constantius was on his deathbed,

in Britain in 306 AD. The period after his father?s death in 306 AD., until the ultimate defeat of

his enemies in 324 AD., saw Constantine attempting to rule Rome while it was in a state of civil

war. These two sets of military campaigns against him resulted in Constantine eventually

becoming the sole ruler of the Empire.

Prior to Constantine?s rise to the throne, the Roman Empire was in a state of decline. A

multitude of forces on the Empire?s eastern front, as well as barbarian uprisings in the north were

putting a strain on the Rome externally, while at the same time, the division of rule weakened it

on the domestic front. Paganism was seen as a vital part of the Roman culture, as well as a

uniting force offering a strong sense of patriotism. This aspect of the Roman lifestyle however

was being threatened by the growing support for Christianity, which had been gaining momentum

over the preceding two hundred years, despite persecution and mistrust at the hands of the Roman

people and government.

Under the Emperor Diocletian, who ruled from 284 to his abdication in 305 AD., the

Christian minority suffered its most severe persecution. Seen as a threat to the crown as well as to

the Roman way of life, they faced oppression at every turn at the hands of the pagans, sanctioned

by the government of Diocletian. This however did not seem to put an end to the expansion of

Christianity. As a result, the Romans reached the point that they could no longer ignore the

?problem? of Christianity. So far as the Romans were concerned, the matter of religion was

governmental, and the government held the responsibility of ensuring that Rome retained favour

in the eyes of the gods. In the Christian philosophy however, God was seen as separate from, and

a higher priority than, the state.

As a result, the Romans saw the Christians as a threat to their way of life, and believed

that the only way to preserve it was through the persecution of them. The Christians, on the other

hand, only wished to seek relief from the persecution they were suffering at the hands of their

oppressors. Clearly, some change to the existing order would have to occur for the two to exist

together in relative harmony. Upon the abdication of Diocletian in 305 AD., it was apparent that

his successor would be forced to deal with the pressing problem of the two conflicting religions.

After the defeat of his rivals in several military campaigns, Constantine did just that. In 312 AD.,

Constantine?s forces fought and defeated the forces of Maxentius. Later, in 314, 316, and 324

AD., Constantine repeatedly defeated his other enemy Licinius. After the final defeat of Licinius in

324 AD., Constantine became the sole imperator of the Roman Empire.

It was during the first of these campaigns that Constantine openly asserted his Christian

beliefs, crediting Jesus Christ for his victory over Maxentius, at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.

The motives behind the conversion of Constantine remain a topic of debate. Legend states that

Constantine claimed that he had seen the sign of Christ in the sky outside of Rome, and believed

that it was as a result of this experience that he was able to defeat his rival. It is also as a

possibility that Constantine chose to embrace Christianity as a simple demonstration of his

opposition to Maxentius, who held very deep pagan convictions. ?If it was merely experimenting

with the cross of Jesus, the experiment brought convincing belief, for the sacred emblem was

employed in all later military campaigns, ? stated historian Alexander Flick about Constantine?s

conversion. In either scenario, after the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, Constantine was recognized

as a Christian by all.

The motives of Constantine would govern his policies towards the church throughout his

reign. While purely political incentives would result in Constantine exploiting the church to his

own end, purely religious convictions would see the church using the emperor as a puppet to its

own advantage. History shows that Constantine?s motives were of a mixed nature. As he had

received some Christian background in his upbringing, he held a sympathetic theological

perspective towards the religion. At the same time, he continued his father?s policies of religious

toleration. Thus it was not a complete change in character for Constantine to embrace

Christianity. However, the most probable factor in Constantine?s conversion to Christianity would

be that in his early military campaigns against his adversaries, the Christian God seemed to serve

him well. As a result, his faith increased each time God delivered him another victory over his

enemies.

In 313 AD., Constantine met with Licinius, and the two rulers drew up the Edict of Milan,

which effectively put an end to the era of Christian persecution by granting the Christians the

freedom to practice their religion without fear of government reprisal. Christians who had lost

their status and legal power in the past now had it reinstated. The Edict also recognized the

church as as a legitimate establishment, for it permitted the church to buy and hold land. It is not

surprising that for these reasons that the church welcomed the Edict of Milan. Its results were

described by Alexander Flick:

It did not make Christianity the state religion, as is generally asserted, but only

legalized it, and popularized it. Now the people could and did openly desert the

old and join the new faith… (The Edict) gave opportunity for public

organization, thus paving the way for the Catholic hierarchy already begun;

and marks as a new era in the history of the Christian church, because at last as

a great Roman Emperor and his conquering army had taken up the sword of

persecuted Christianity.

By passing the Edict, Constantine had started the process of making Christianity the

official religion of the Roman state rather than paganism This transition from paganism to

Christianity was accomplished by the passing of laws and other government legislation which

favoured this new-coming Roman religion over that of the old. Constantine began showing favour

towards Christianity as early as 312, however, he himself did not officially convert to the religion

until his baptism in 337 AD. Other decrees that showed favour to the Christians followed the

Edict. Gradually, the clergy became exempt from military and municipal duties ( a privilege

previously reserved for pagan priests and Jewish rabbis). Christian slaves were also emancipated.

In 316 AD., a multitude of customs and traditions the Christians found offensive were abolished,

and by 323, the former gods of the Roman Empire; Jupiter, Apollo, Mars, etc., were no longer

visible on state coinage. It is an interesting sidenote that most of the blatantly obvious pro-

Christian decrees executed by Constantine were not implemented until after the final defeat of

Licinius, in 324 AD., which placed Constantine in the position of sole ruler of the Roman

Empire.

The changes brought about by Constantine resulted in drastic and permanent effects to the

Roman state, as well as the Christian church. These shifts in the nature of these two

establishments had profound consequences on those citizens involved under each. With the

Christians, it meant public acceptance and an end to unrelenting persecution. With regards to the