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==Introduction==[[File:Constantine's conversion.jpg|300px|thumbnail|left|The Conversion of Constantine by Reubens]]__NOTOC__One of the most important figures in the ancient world was the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great. He set the stage for Christianity to become the official state religion of the Roman Empire and in doing so he not only changed that Empire but also world history. This research will discuss the evidence for Constantine's "conversion" to Christianity and identify when he can be called an actual Christian. It will focus on Constantine's alleged conversion before the t Battle of the Milvian Bridge in October, 312 AD. There are many who have argued that Constantine did not really convert to Christianity at the time. There are those who doubt if Constantine did actually convert and that his beliefs were not those of an orthodox Christian until much later in life. The work will assert that Constantine did not have a conversion experience before the Milvian Bridge, as shown in the Christian sources and that he took many years to become a Christian. [[File:Constantine's conversion.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The Conversion of Constantine by Reubens]]

==Background==After the Third Century Crisis, the Roman Empire had been stabilized by a series of Illyrian Emperors. There are many who have argued that Constantine did not really convert to Christianity at this time had been growing more popular especially in the urban areas of the Empire, despite periodic bouts of persecution. At the time of Constantine’s birth, the empire was experiencing something of a revival under the system known as the Tetrarchy established by Diocletian. During this emperor’s reign, there was a prolonged persecution of the Christians. The Tetrarchy involved several co-Emperor’s cooperating in the administration of the far-flung Empire and in the defence of its long borders </ref> Cameron, A. The later Roman Empire, AD 284-430 (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. 1993), p 56</ref>. This system after the death of Diocletian’s main heir, Galerius, collapsed. The co-emperors There are those who had under the Diocletian system worked together, now fought each other for supreme power doubt if Constantine did actually convert and there was a civil war throughout the Empire. Constantine’s father had been one of the co-emperors. He had succeeded that his father and was the de-facto ruler beliefs were not those of an orthodox Christian until much of western Europe. When Maxentius deposed the co-emperor later in Italy, Constantine saw an opportunity to gain new territorieslife. The Christian bishop Eusebius of Caesarea claimed work will assert that Constantine wanted to save Rome from did not have a tyranny <ref> Eusebius, xviiii</ref>. Constantine had advanced quickly from his base in France but his army was significantly smaller than his enemy’s. He approached Rome and camped his army conversion experience before the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD<ref>Cameron, p 113</ref>. Then according to Christian accounts, he had a dream or vision. The traditional account states that Constantine saw a Christian emblem as shown in the sky. He saw this as a portent and this that led him to order his legionnaires to mark their shields with the Christian sign, the Chi Rho, similar to a cross. Lacentius relates how According to the Roman writer Lacentius Constantine ‘had marked on their shields the letter Χ, with a perpendicular line drawn through it sources and turned round thus at the top, being the cipher of CHRIST. <ref> Lactantius, De Mortibus Persecutorum Chapter XLIV </ref>. Many have seen this as proof that Constantine converted to Christianity before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. Their argument is that after his vision that Constantine became totally committed to Christianity. The next day the army of Constantine inflicted a great defeat on Maxentius and he marched into Rome, the first Christian emperor <ref> Lactantius. X,IV</ref>. Later he defeated the ruler of the Eastern Empire and once more unified the Roman provinces under a single emperor. Constantine was a very effective ruler, he reformed the administration and rebuilt took many cities, but he was an autocrat. He brought stability years to the Roman empire after the civil wars and established become a dynasty. Constantine also built the city of Constantinople (later Byzantium) and in doing so he laid the foundations for the medieval Byzantine Empire. His most important legacy was that he ended the persecution of Christians and legalized Christianity <ref> Cameron, p 114</ref>Christian.

==Did Constantine Become a Christian?=Background===Many such as After the Third Century Crisis, the Christian writer Eusebius argued that Constantine’s order that his troops put Roman Empire had been stabilized by a Christian symbol on their shields was proof his conversion before the Battle series of the Milvian Bridge Illyrian Emperors. Christianity at this time had been growing more popular especially in 312 AD. However, it was usual for a leader to seek the support urban areas of a God. In the polytheism, prevalent in the Roman Empire, people would simply offer sacrificSe and thanks to despite periodic bouts of persecution. At the deity that they believed would be most likely to help them. time of Constantine’s instructions for his soldiers could be interpreted as merely seeking birth, the support empire was experiencing something of a revival under the Christian God and not system known as a sign of his conversion to Christianitythe Tetrarchy established by Diocletian. LacentiusDuring this emperor’s reign, a contemporary writer argued that because Constantine ordered his soldiers to display a Christian symbol <ref> Lacentius XIV</ref>, it did not mean that he had converted. Adopting a Christian symbol there was a remarkable action, given that the Roman elite scorned that religion and that most prolonged persecution of the population was pagan. However, Constantine had appeared to sympathize with the Christians during the persecution of Diocletian in particular. The Christian community Tetrarchy involved several co-Emperor’s cooperating in the west had been generally spared the worst effects administration of the persecution. There is a longfar-standing argument flung Empire and in the secondary literature that Constantine ‘conversion’ before the Milvian Bridge was a strategy to secure Christian support and to unify the empiredefence of its long borders. However, this is unlikely given the relative strengths of Christianity and paganism in the Empire <ref> RothCameron, J. (2013)A. Constantine revisited (London, Wipf & Stock Pub, 2015), p. 67 </refi> Paganism was not in any way in decline in the Empire during Constantine’s reign. In this context, Constantine’s alleged conversion would have been remarkable, especially given his ambition to unify the The later Roman Empire. The army was still largely pagan, and every Emperor depended on for his authority and even his life, on the soldiers' loyalty AD 284-430<ref/i> Cameron(Cambridge, pMass. 104</ref>: Harvard University Press. Then there was the Roman and Provincial nobility, who were still pagan, and every Roman Emperor needed their cooperation to control the Empire <ref>Cameron1993), p. 10256</ref>. The fact that Constantine did order his legionaries to display a Christian symbol in battle is significant in This system after the development death of his religious beliefs. Because such a move was politically riskyDiocletian’s main heir, Galerius, in the context of the times when so many were pagancollapsed. This would suggest that Constantine did have some religious experience before The co-emperors who had under the Milivian BridgeDiocletian system worked together, even if it now fought each other for supreme power and there was not an outright conversion. Constantine’s experience in 312 AD, cannot be regarded as a conversion because it was not followed by his baptism and civil war throughout the public profession of that religion. In the 4th century, AD baptism was the final and public proof of conversionEmpire.

==Constantine and Constantine’s father had been one of the Church==If Constantine did have a conversion experience before the Milvian Bridge then he would have championed the Church in the years after itco-emperors. The relationship He had succeeded his father and was the de-facto ruler of much of Constantine to the Church is essential if we are to understand if he had a genuine conversion experience in 312 ADwestern Europe. He began immediately to favor the Christians after his victory over When Maxentius. In 313 AD he reached an agreement with deposed the Emperor co-emperor in the LiciniusItaly, that ended the persecution in the eastern half of the Empire<ref> Drake, H.A., "The Impact of Constantine on Christianity", in Lenski, N (edsaw an opportunity to gain new territories.), The Cambridge Companion to the Age Christian bishop Eusebius of Caesarea claimed that Constantine, Cambridge, 2006: 111-136 </ref> . Constantine, after 312 AD began wanted to favor the Christian clergy and he began save Rome from a large scale Church building program in Rome and elsewhere in his empiretyranny. He built Basilicas and churches, especially in Rome. Constantine promoted many Christians to important positions in his army and they were very influential at his court as advisors <ref>DrakeEusebius, 2006, p. 121xviiii</ref>. These could be interpreted as the actions of a new convert, who was eager to demonstrate Constantine had advanced quickly from his faith. However, there was much about Constantine that was not Christian and he was noticeably war-like, while most Christians at the time were pacifists. The Church was elevated to a position of influence base in France but it his army was clearly under the control of Constantinesignificantly smaller than his enemy’s. This favoritism towards the Christian Church did not lead to any conspiracies or revolts He approached Rome and there is little evidence of any resentment from camped his army before the pagan majority. Constantine was careful not to offend the significant pagan population Milvian Bridge in the Empire. In fact, at one stage the Emperor seemed to favor the worship of the Sun312 AD. This period has been glossed over by Christian writers or conveniently ignored <ref> Cameron, p 115113</ref>. Constantine’s policies and legislation were not explicitly Then according to Christian and accounts, he did not make it the official religionhad a dream or vision. These show that while he was very much influenced by Christianity The traditional account states that he was in no way an orthodox Christian Emperor, as shown in the Christian sources. [[File: Constantine Chiaramonti Inv1749.jpg|200px|thumb|left|A bust of Constantine]]==Constantine and Church Unity==The Church in Constantine’s time was very divided. It was divided on theological issues and these had led to schisms in the saw a Christian community. Constantine was to prove to be very interested emblem in the unity of the Church after 312 ADsky. He held saw this as a series of Councils portent and this that was led him to be very important in the development of the Church and its doctrines. At these Constantine attempted order his legionnaires to persuade mark their shields with the Bishops to come to an agreement on theological matters such as the nature of ChristChristian sign, which was at the heart of the Arian controversy. He attempted to ensure that there were no breakaway Churches and he prevented the formation of independent Christians churches </ref> EusebiusChi Rho, VI</ref>. Constantine constantly attempted similar to achieve unity in the Church and one that had a set of beliefs founded on the scripturescross. These efforts would indicate that he had been genuinely converted at Lacentius relates how According to the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD. Roman writer Lacentius Constantine was an autocratic ruler and he attempted to impose order ‘had marked on every aspect of Roman lifetheir shields the letter Χ, as indicated by his administrative reforms <ref> Cameron, p 112</ref>. The Christian Church was with a very important part of the life of people in perpendicular line drawn through it and turned round thus at the Roman Empire. Its theological disputes could potentially destabilize the Empire <ref> Rapp, C.top, "Imperial Ideology in being the Making: Eusebius cipher of Caesarea on Constantine as Bishop", Journal of Theological Studies, 49 (1998): 684-95</ref>CHRIST. Eusebius portrays Egypt as ungovernable because of the theological controversies that were dividing the church in that province <ref> EusebiusLactantius, IVDe Mortibus Persecutorum Chapter XLIV </ref>. According to Eusebius in every city ‘bishops were engaged in obstinate conflict with bishops, and people rising against people’ <ref> Eusebius, Vita Constantini. Vi </ref>. The deep interest that Constantine had in the unity of the Christian Church cannot be construed as indicating that he was a full professed Christian. [[File:Constantine multiple CdM Beistegui 233.jpg|200px|thumb|left|A gold coin of Constantine]]

==Many have seen this as proof that Constantine and Conversion==To understand if Constantine did have a conversion experience at the time of converted to Christianity before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge there needs . Their argument is that after his vision that Constantine became totally committed to be an understanding Christianity. The next day the army of what conversion meant at the time <ref> Rapp, p. 65</ref>. Constantine was not technically inflicted a Christian after 312 AD, or for many years afterwardgreat defeat on Maxentius and he marched into Rome, because he had not been baptized and was therefore not a full member of the Churchfirst Christian emperor. However, the conversion process could be gradual <ref> Elliot, Thomas GLactantius.X, 'Constantine's Conversion; do we really need it?' Phoenix 41 (1987), 420-438 IV</ref> . Constantine only seems to have slowly accepted Christian doctrine. Before this, Later he probably still had some lingering faith in some defeated the ruler of the pagan deities, especially Eastern Empire and once more unified the sun-god, whose worship Roman provinces under a single emperor. Constantine was a very popular <ref> Ellioteffective ruler, p. 430</ref>. Constantine was not suddenly converted to Christianity before he reformed the Milvian Bridgeadministration and rebuilt many cities, but that episode he was very important in his growing attachment an autocrat. He brought stability to the Church Roman empire after the civil wars and its doctrinesestablished a dynasty. The growing relationship between Constantine and also built the Christian Church would indicate his growing commitment to Christianity, but that is was a long-drawn out process<ref> Smith, M.D., "The Religion city of Constantius I", Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies 38 Constantinople (1997later Byzantium): 187-209</ref>. The ‘vision’ before the Milvian Bridge, that prompted him to order his soldiers to enter battle with a Christian sign was crucial and in his early religious development. It seems that Constantine’s conversion was almost a life-long process and doing so he was not a true Christian in 312 AD or laid the foundations for many years afterthe medieval Byzantine Empire. Indeed he His most important legacy was probably an old man before that he was a true Christianended the persecution of Christians and legalized Christianity. He only accepted baptism on his deathbed and perhaps only then could he be considered a Christian <ref> SmithCameron, p. 189114</ref>

==Conclusion=Did Constantine Become a Christian?===To conclude, tradition states Many such as the Christian writer Eusebius argued that Constantine’s order that Constantine converted to Christianity his troops put a Christian symbol on their shields was proof his conversion before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD. Eusebius alone states that Constantine was converted and he However, it was usual for a leader to seek the support of a Christian bishop <ref> Eusebius, Vita Constantini. Vi </ref>God. Constantine was already sympathetic to Christianity before In the Battle polytheism, prevalent in 312 AD. the Roman Empire, people would simply offer sacrificSe and very gradually converted thanks to Christianity. He did not receive baptism until just before his death. A prolonged conversion process was typical of the period and it was only with the onset of death deity that the emperor could convert. It they believed would have been very difficult for him be most likely to rule a largely pagan population if he had become a full member of the Churchhelp them. Constantine did not convert in 312 AD, but Constantine’s instructions for his soldiers could be interpreted as merely seeking the vision support of Constantine, before the Battle Christian God and not as a sign of the Milivian Bridge was an important stage in his eventual conversion to Christianity. It can be said with some confidence Lacentius, a contemporary writer argued that because Constantine the Great was ordered his soldiers to display a life-long supporter of Christianity but Christian symbol,<ref> Lacentius XIV</ref> it did not actually become mean that he had converted. Adopting a fully committed Christian until his baptism shortly before he diedsymbol was a remarkable action, given that the Roman elite scorned that religion and that most of the population was pagan.

However, Constantine had appeared to sympathize with the Christians during the persecution of Diocletian in particular. The Christian community in the west had been generally spared the worst effects of the persecution. There is a long-standing argument in the secondary literature that Constantine ‘conversion’ before the Milvian Bridge was a strategy to secure Christian support and to unify the empire. However, this is unlikely given the relative strengths of Christianity and paganism in the Empire.<ref> Roth, J. (2013). <i>Constantine revisited</i> (London, Wipf & Stock Pub, 2015), p. 67 </ref>  Paganism was not in any way in decline in the Empire during Constantine’s reign. In this context, Constantine’s alleged conversion would have been remarkable, especially given his ambition to unify the Roman Empire. The army was still largely pagan, and every Emperor depended on for his authority and even his life, on the soldiers' loyalty.<ref> Cameron, p. 104</ref> Then there was the Roman and Provincial nobility, who were still pagan, and every Roman Emperor needed their cooperation to control the Empire. <ref>Cameron, p. 102</ref> The fact that Constantine did order his legionaries to display a Christian symbol in battle is significant in the development of his religious beliefs. Because such a move was politically risky, in the context of the times when so many were pagan. This would suggest that Constantine did have some religious experience before the Milivian Bridge, even if it was not an outright conversion. Constantine’s experience in 312 AD, cannot be regarded as a conversion because it was not followed by his baptism and the public profession of that religion. In the 4th century, AD baptism was the final and public proof of conversion. ===Constantine and the Church===[[File: Constantine Chiaramonti Inv1749.jpg|300px|thumbnail|left|A bust of Constantine]]If Constantine did have a conversion experience before the Milvian Bridge then he would have championed the Church in the years after it. The relationship of Constantine to the Church is essential if we are to understand if he had a genuine conversion experience in 312 AD. He began immediately to favor the Christians after his victory over Maxentius. In 313 AD he reached an agreement with the Emperor in the Licinius, that ended the persecution in the eastern half of the Empire.<ref> Drake, H.A., "The Impact of Constantine on Christianity", in Lenski, N (ed.), <i>The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Constantine</i>, Cambridge, 2006: 111-136 </ref>  <dh-ad/> Constantine, after 312 AD began to favor the Christian clergy and he began a large scale Church building program in Rome and elsewhere in his empire. He built Basilicas and churches, especially in Rome. Constantine promoted many Christians to important positions in his army and they were very influential at his court as advisors <ref>Drake, 2006, p. 121</ref>. These could be interpreted as the actions of a new convert, who was eager to demonstrate his faith. However, there was much about Constantine that was not Christian and he was noticeably war-like, while most Christians at the time were pacifists. The Church was elevated to a position of influence but it was clearly under the control of Constantine.  This favoritism towards the Christian Church did not lead to any conspiracies or revolts and there is little evidence of any resentment from the pagan majority. Constantine was careful not to offend the significant pagan population in the Empire. In fact, at one stage the Emperor seemed to favor the worship of the Sun. This period has been glossed over by Christian writers or conveniently ignored.<ref> Cameron, p 115</ref> Constantine’s policies and legislation were not explicitly Christian and he did not make it the official religion. These show that while he was very much influenced by Christianity that he was in no way an orthodox Christian Emperor, as shown in the Christian sources.  ===Constantine and Church Unity===[[File:Constantine multiple CdM Beistegui 233.jpg|300px|thumbnail|left|A gold coin of Constantine]]The Church in Constantine’s time was very divided. It was divided on theological issues and these had led to schisms in the Christian community. Constantine was to prove to be very interested in the unity of the Church after 312 AD. He held a series of Councils that was to be very important in the development of the Church and its doctrines. At these Constantine attempted to persuade the Bishops to come to an agreement on theological matters such as the nature of Christ, which was at the heart of the Arian controversy. He attempted to ensure that there were no breakaway Churches and he prevented the formation of independent Christians churches.<ref> Eusebius, VI</ref> Constantine constantly attempted to achieve unity in the Church and one that had a set of beliefs founded on the scriptures. These efforts would indicate that he had been genuinely converted at the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD. Constantine was an autocratic ruler and he attempted to impose order on every aspect of Roman life, as indicated by his administrative reforms.<ref> Cameron, p 112</ref> The Christian Church was a very important part of the life of people in the Roman Empire. Its theological disputes could potentially destabilize the Empire.<ref> Rapp, C., "Imperial Ideology in the Making: Eusebius of Caesarea on Constantine as Bishop", <i>Journal of Theological Studies, 49</i> (1998): 684-95</ref>. Eusebius portrays Egypt as ungovernable because of the theological controversies that were dividing the church in that province <ref> Eusebius, IV</ref> According to Eusebius in every city ‘bishops were engaged in obstinate conflict with bishops, and people rising against people’ <ref> Eusebius, Vita Constantini. Vi </ref>. The deep interest that Constantine had in the unity of the Christian Church cannot be construed as indicating that he was a full professed Christian. ===Constantine and Conversion===To understand if Constantine did have a conversion experience at the time of the Battle of the Milvian Bridge there needs to be an understanding of what conversion meant at the time.<ref>Rapp, p. 65</ref> Constantine was not technically a Christian after 312 AD, or for many years afterward, because he had not been baptized and was therefore not a full member of the Church. However, the conversion process could be gradual.<ref> Elliot, Thomas G., 'Constantine's Conversion; do we really need it?' Phoenix 41 (1987), 420-438 </ref> Constantine only seems to have slowly accepted Christian doctrine. Before this, he probably still had some lingering faith in some of the pagan deities, especially the sun-god, whose worship was very popular.<ref> Elliot, p. 430</ref>  Constantine was not suddenly converted to Christianity before the Milvian Bridge, but that episode was very important in his growing attachment to the Church and its doctrines. The growing relationship between Constantine and the Christian Church would indicate his growing commitment to Christianity, but that is was a long-drawn out process.<ref> Smith, M.D., "The Religion of Constantius I", Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies 38 (1997): 187-209</ref> The ‘vision’ before the Milvian Bridge, that prompted him to order his soldiers to enter battle with a Christian sign was crucial in his early religious development. It seems that Constantine’s conversion was almost a life-long process and he was not a true Christian in 312 AD or for many years after. Indeed he was probably an old man before he was a true Christian. He only accepted baptism on his deathbed and perhaps only then could he be considered a Christian.<ref> Smith, p. 189</ref> ===Conclusion===To conclude, tradition states that Constantine converted to Christianity before the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 AD. Eusebius alone states that Constantine was converted and he was a Christian bishop.<ref> Eusebius, <i>Vita Constantini</i>. Vi </ref> Constantine was already sympathetic to Christianity before the Battle in 312 AD. and very gradually converted to Christianity. He did not receive baptism until just before his death. A prolonged conversion process was typical of the period and it was only with the onset of death that the emperor could convert. It would have been very difficult for him to rule a largely pagan population if he had become a full member of the Church. Constantine did not convert in 312 AD, but the vision of Constantine, before the Battle of the Milivian Bridge was an important stage in his eventual conversion to Christianity. It can be said with some confidence that Constantine the Great was a life-long supporter of Christianity but did not actually become a fully committed Christian until his baptism shortly before he died. ===References===<references/> {{Contributors}}