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"THE
HISTORY"
COSTANTINO'S
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When
Diocleziano moved the capital of the empire to Nicomedia a division
of the power
became necessary to stay closer to the borders always less safer becouse
of continuous Barbarians' attacks. For this reason was nominated
Augusto of Milan Massimiano while Diocleziano kept thew title
of Augusto for the eastern provinces. Each Augusto nominated his
Ceasars: Galerio was Diocleziano's Ceasar and set a capital in
Mitrovizza, Costanzo Cloro as Massimiano's Ceasar in Treviri.
Two Augustos kept their promise to abdicate after twenty years
of goverment and pass the power to the Ceasars. Diocleziano retired
in Spalato till his death just in time to see the end of the peace
and the beginning of civil war. Costantino was Costanzo Cloro's
son while Massenzio was Massimiano's son. The 27th of October
312 A.D. two armies leaded by Costantino and Massenzio faced each
other close to Rome and Costantino saw a lighted cross in the
sky with this inscription "In hoc signo vinces" that
means In this sign you'll win. Costantino drawn the cross on his
flag and won the battle for the power. All this story is commemorated
in 315 A.D. with this arch still well kept nowadays before the
Coliseum. The weird thing is that nothing in this arch remember
the influence of Christ on the fortune of this battle, moreover
some friezes and estatues come from other momuments of the forum.
This says much to us on the Costantino's conversion to Christian
religion. In fact he surely changed the religion of the empire
with his famous edict (there was not another one at that point)
but he also accepted to be baptized just at death's door.
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