This is an occasional series of readings from and brief notes and commentary upon Eusebius of Caesarea’s The Ecclesiastical History: Book 9, chapter 9.
Notes and Commentary:
This chapter describes the beginning
of the dissolution of the Roman Tetrarchy with the rise of Constantine and Licinius
against the tyrants, Maxentius (in the West) and Maximin (in the East), a process
which would eventually result in Constantine’s consolidation of power as sole
emperor and his tolerance and favor extended to Christians.
Eusebius suggests that Constantine
and Licinius, “both honored for their understanding and piety”, were driven by divine
providence to oppose the tyrants, noting that Licanius would also eventually “become
mad.”
He describes how Constantine came
with full force through Italy to liberate the city of Rome from tyranny.
Maxentius and his forces met Constantine at a bridge made by the joining of
boats (The Battle of Milvian Bridge, October 28, 312). The bridge collapsed and
Maxentius and his men were drowned and defeated. Eusebius is quick to draw a
parallel to Moses’s victory over the Egyptians at the Red Sea: “the horse and his
rider hath he thrown into the sea” (Exod 15:1).
Constantine then entered Rome in
triumph. He ordered a statue be set up with him holding a cross (“a memorial of
the Savior’s passion”) in his right hand, bearing, in part, the inscription, “By
this salutary sign, the true proof of bravery, I saved and delivered your city
from the yoke of the tyrant….”
Note: Though not mentioned here, in
his Life of Constantine, Eusebius says that before the battle Constantine
had a vision of the cross in heaven with the inscription, “In this sign conquer”
(Vita Constantini, 1.28).
After this victory, Constantine and
Licinius issued “a most perfect law in the fullest terms on behalf of the
Christians.”
Maximin, the tyrant of the East,
still standing and seeing the shifting of circumstances, issued an epistle, quoted
by Eusebius, attempting to spin himself as having been tolerant of the
Christians, despite his previous edicts against them.
According to Eusebius, reading this
epistle, no one saw Maximin as truthful or trustworthy. The Christians did not yet
dare to assemble in public, sensing that Maximin, a “monster of iniquity,” was
resolved not to offer them toleration.
Conclusion:
Eusebius presents the rise of
Constantine as the beginning of the end of persecution against the Christians. One
tyrant (Maxentius) was disposed and one more remained to be disposed (Maximin).
Hope is on the horizon.
JTR
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