ENGLISH

Remembering Constantine at the Milvian Bridge

By Raymond Van Dam

Book information

Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
2011
ISBN
110709643X, 9781107096431
Google Books ID
JS468l8Rnu0C
Language
english
Format
PDF
Filesize
2 MB (1625567 bytes)
Edition
1
Pages
312\312
Orientation
yes
Scanned
no
Time added
2012-02-04 16:00:00

Description

Constantine's victory in 312 at the battle of the Milvian Bridge established his rule as the first Christian emperor. This book examines the creation and dissemination of the legends about that battle and its significance. Christian histories, panegyrics, and an honorific arch at Rome soon commemorated his victory, and the emperor himself contributed to the myth by describing his vision of a cross in the sky before the battle. Through meticulous research into the late Roman narratives and the medieval and Byzantine legends, this book moves beyond a strictly religious perspective by emphasizing the conflicts about the periphery of the Roman empire, the nature of emperorship, and the role of Rome as a capital city. Throughout late antiquity and the medieval period, memories of Constantine's victory served as a powerful paradigm for understanding rulership in a Christian society.

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