Maxentius was among the dead, having drowned in the river while trying to swim across it in a desperate bid to escape. This decision is largely believed to have been based on favorable omens and the fact that the battle would occur on the anniversary of his ascension to the throne. Constantine's infantry[20] then advanced; most of Maxentius's troops fought well but they began to be pushed back toward the Tiber. Warfare is a fascinating subject. In 313, Constantine and Licinius declare that Christians could exercise their religion freely within the empire without fear of prosecution. Constantine was a brilliant commander, and his troops were battle hardened veterans of countless battles with the barbarians, and he had superior cavalry. Seeking revenge, Maxentius decided to start a campaign and remove Constantine from his position as ruler of the Western Roman Empire. However, there was only one way he could return to the city. The Battle of the Milvian Bridge changed history. What has been the Impact of the Creation of Bangladesh. [25] He staged a grand arrival ceremony in the city (adventus), and was met with popular jubilation. Gerberding and Moran Cruz, 55; cf. With these circumstances, Maxentius chose the site for the battle he thought would be favorable to him the Milvian Bridge. Constantine won the battle and started on the path that led him to end the Tetrarchy and become the sole ruler of the Roman Empire. [23] Lactantius describes the death of Maxentius in the following manner: "The bridge in his rear was broken down. The earliest account of the battle, dating from AD 313, mentions nothing about a vision or a dream.

Copyright 2022 History Today Ltd. Company no. Much of this was the work of Maxentius' father Maximian, who had been forcibly retired as emperor on May 1, 305 following a coup by his abdicating co-ruler Diocletian. [25] After the ceremonies, Maxentius' head was sent to Carthage as proof of his downfall, Africa then offered no further resistance. In the spring of 312, Constantine gathered an army of 40,000 soldiers and decided to oust Maxentius himself. Galerius ordered his co-Augustus, Severus, to put him down in early 307. The first, shorter one in the Ecclesiastical History promotes the belief that the Christian God helped Constantine but does not mention any vision. They also note that the day of the battle was the same as the day of his accession (28 October), which was generally thought to be a good omen. This battle was one of many in the endless civil wars that scarred the Roman Empire, but its outcome was critical in the evolution of Rome. When Constantines cavalry charged, however, Maxentiuss men were driven in flight across the bridge of boats, which collapsed under them, and many were drowned, including Maxentius himself. He knew Constantine well and said he had the story from the emperor himself. He also built magnificent churches, including Santa Sophia in his capital city of Byzantium, renamed Constantinople. Despite the dubious morality of using violence to achieve personal or political aims. When Constantius died on 25 July 306, his fathers troops proclaimed Constantine as Augustus in Eboracum (York). As he neared Rome, it was expected that Maxentius would stay within the city walls and force him to lay siege. On the other hand, there is a possibility that he chose to engage in open battle in order to win back the favor and respect of the empire. M.P. With Maxentius' army split and decimated, the battle came to a close. K. von Landmann, Konstantin der Grosse als Feldherr in J. F. Dlger (ed.). The hand of the Lord prevailed, and the forces of Maxentius were routed. Constantine won a great victory on October 28th, 312. [26] Maxentius' body was fished out of the Tiber and decapitated. We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. J. Moreau, Pont Milvius ou Saxa Rubra?. However, there was only one escape route, via the bridge. Maxentius decided to retreat and make another stand at Rome itself. He expanded his reign to include the entire Roman Empire after defeating Licinius during the civil war of 324. The. Constantine avoided conflict with both Maxentius and the Eastern emperors for most of this period. [5], By 312, however, Constantine and Maxentius were engaged in open hostility with one another, although they were brothers-inlaw through Constantine's marriage to Fausta, sister of Maxentius. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/roman-empire-battle-of-milvian-bridge-2360878. Byzantium. Galerius ordered his co-Augustus, Severus, to put Maxentius down in early 307. [18], The next day, the two armies clashed, and Constantine won a decisive victory. In AD 315 the Senate dedicated a triumphal arch in Rome to Constantine (it may have been built originally for Maxentius), with an inscription praising him because with divine instigation he and his army had won the victory.

He was the dominus of Britain, Gaul and the Iberian Peninsula. It is believed Maxentius died during his own unorganized retreat. Constantine entered Rome on 29 October. A solidus of Constantine as well as a gold medallion from his reign depict the Emperor's bust in profile jugate with Sol Invictus, with the legend INVICTUS CONSTANTINUS. On the 28th of October, the legions of Constantine and Maxentius clashed. They gradually pushed back the forces of Maxentius, who ordered a retreat which soon became a route. Maxentius died in the battle, and it is believed that he drowned in the River Tiber like so many others. Constantine entered Rome not long afterwards and was acclaimed as sole Western Roman Augustus, disbanding the 300-year-old Praetorian Guard. The dispositions of Maxentius may have been faulty as his troops seem to have been arrayed with the River Tiber too close to their rear, giving them little space to allow re-grouping in the event of their formations being forced to give ground. The aftermath of the battle led to dramatic military and political changes and in the long-run the emergence of the Byzantine Empire, which was to last in some form until 1453 AD. Constantine was allowed to maintain rule over provincial Britain and Gaul, but was officially only a "Caesar"a little emperor. This page has been accessed 35,821 times. Constantine's men inflicted heavy losses on the retreating army. At first he was unsure of the meaning of the apparition, but in the following night he had a dream in which Christ explained to him that he should use the sign against his enemies. [28] Constantine is thought to have replaced the former imperial guards with a number of cavalry units termed the Scholae Palatinae. In one account, the pontoon bridge collapsed, and many of Maxentius men drowned in their heavy armor. as a solar halo phenomenon called a sun dog), which may have preceded the Christian beliefs later expressed by Constantine. Now, Constantine not only had well-experienced men fighting alongside him, but he was strengthened by these beliefs. It is commonly understood that on the evening of 27 October with the armies preparing for battle, Constantine had a vision which led him to fight under the protection of the Christian God. The story, or a story, of what happened was told by Eusebius of Caesarea, a Christian biblical scholar and historian who wrote the first biography of Constantine soon after the emperors death. After Diocletian stepped down on 1 May 305, his successors began to struggle for control of the Roman Empire almost immediately. In Rome, the favorite was Maxentius, the son of Constantius' imperial colleague Maximian, who seized the title of emperor on 28 October 306. In his later Life of Constantine, Eusebius gives a detailed account of a vision and stresses that he had heard the story from the Emperor himself. Constantine's triumphal arch was carefully positioned to align with the colossal statue of Sol by the Colosseum, so that Sol formed the dominant backdrop when seen from the direction of the main approach towards the arch.[15]. Statuettes of Sol Invictus, carried by the standard-bearers, appear in three places in reliefs on the Arch of Constantine. The solar deity Sol Invictus is often pictured with a nimbus or halo. Once Severus arrived in Italy, however, his army defected to Maxentius. Holding it was crucial if Maxentius was to keep his rival out of Rome, where the Senate of Rome would surely favor whoever held the city. Galerius himself marched on Rome in the autumn, but failed to take the city. The victor of the battle went on to establish a new dynasty, lay the foundations for the later Byzantine Empire, and help establish Christianity as the official religion of Rome. As a symbol of his victory, Constantine had a larger-than-life statue of himself made. He had to cross a bridge that had been built alongside the Milvian one as a temporary measure, after the main bridge was damaged in the fighting. Eusebius, Smith, 104: "What little evidence exists suggests that in fact the labarum bearing the chi-rho symbol was not used before 317, when Crispus became Caesar", A comprehensive discussion of all sol-coinage and -legends per emperor from. Top Ten: Most Terrifying Monsters Of Greek Mythology, Five Reasons Why Socrates Was A Terrible Husband, Prometheus The Creation of Man and a History of Enlightenment, The 5 Most Powerful Creatures From Mythology. London. [14] The official cults of Sol Invictus and Sol Invictus Mithras were popular amongst the soldiers of the Roman Army. Although Constantine was the son of the Western Emperor Constantius, the Tetrarchic ideology did not necessarily provide for hereditary succession. Surprisingly, he decided otherwise, choosing to meet Constantine in open battle. The Arch of Constantine, erected in celebration of the victory, certainly attributes Constantine's success to divine intervention; however, the monument does not display any overtly Christian symbolism. Severus was captured, imprisoned, and executed. In Rome, the favorite was Maxentius, the son of Constantius imperial colleague Maximian, who seized the title of emperor shortly after on 28 October 306. Your article is very well done, a good read. Constantine entered in the city of Rome triumphantly on the 29th of October as the one leader of the Roman Empire. Please consider supporting OrthodoxWiki. Many believe that Maxentius was misled by oracles, but this may only be Christian propaganda. Eusebius then continues to describe the labarum, the military standard used by Constantine in his later wars against Licinius, showing the Chi-Rho sign.[9]. As Maxentius had probably partially destroyed the bridge during his preparations for a siege, he had a wooden or pontoon bridge constructed to get his army across the river. Before the battle, the emperor shared this promise of a great victory with his men, who were instantly motivated by the vision of their leader, and even painted crosses on their shields. Maxentius not only outnumbered Constantine but he also held the heavily fortified city of Rome, withwalls that could withstand sustained attacks for some time. After the battle, Constantine abolished the Praetorian Guard which had been a destabilising influence on the Empire since the First Century AD.

Image sources: Wikipedia and Historynakratko. His head was paraded through the streets for all to see. G. Costa, 'La battaglia di Costantino a Ponte Milvio'. The sources vary as to the nature of the bridge central to the events of the battle. When Constantius died on 25 July 306, his father's troops proclaimed Constantine as Augustus in Eboracum (York). Among them was Flavius Valerius Constantinus, known to history as Constantine the Great. Maxentius' Praetorian Guard, who had originally acclaimed him emperor, seem to have made a stubborn stand on the northern bank of the river; "in despair of pardon they covered with their bodies the place which they had chosen for combat.

Maxentius now lacked the space to regroup, and with his men disarrayed on the river bank, they stood no chance of effectively repelling the advancing army of Constantine.

By AD 323 the birthday of Sol Invictus on December 25th had become the birthday of Christ.

Already known as a skillful general, Constantine began to push Maxentius' army back toward the Tiber. https://www.thoughtco.com/roman-empire-battle-of-milvian-bridge-2360878 (accessed July 22, 2022).

From Eusebius, two accounts of the battle survive. Eusebius of Caesarea recounts that Constantine and his soldiers had a vision sent by the Christian God. The Battle of the Milvian Bridge (312 AD) truly changed the history of not only the Roman Empire, but also the world. This was known as the Edict of Milan and following this event Christianity became a resepcted religion in the lands of the Roman Empire. "Roman Empire: Battle of the Milvian Bridge." 2022 Classical Wisdom Limited. After a few small clashes, Constantine was already under the walls of Rome. In 313, Constantine and Licinius joined forces against Maximinus. Maxentius, who was also a brother-in-law of Constantine, claimed that the other was responsible for the death of Maximianus father of Maxentius. To the south, Maxentius, who occupied Rome, sought to advance his own claim to the title. Constantine's vision prior to the battle is believed to have inspired his ultimate conversion to Christianity. Hickman, Kennedy. In the summer of 312, Constantine gathered his troops and decided to settle the dispute by force. Additionally, Maxentius is reported to have consulted the oracular Sibylline Books, which stated that "on October 28 an enemy of the Romans would perish". (2021, February 16). With his armys back to the river, Maxentius decided to try and break off towards Rome. Maxentius surely thought that his numerical superiority and good positioning are all he needed, but he had little to no idea that Constantines weapon was far more effective. The underlying causes of the battle were the rivalries inherent in Diocletian's Tetrarchy. Galerius died in AD 311 and early the next year Constantine invaded Italy, won battles at Turin and Verona and marched on Rome. Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a3a5efb8925f80959f0f78dced6e0e7a" );document.getElementById("f05c6f46e1").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); The SciHi Blog is made with enthusiasm by, Constantine and the Battle at the Milvian Bridge. According to the sources, he drowned in the Tiber, thrown from his horse, or while swimming to the other bank. Instead of preparing for defense, he alone took the offensive and advanced to Rome. The victory of Constantine led to the re-unification under his leadership and the abolition of the Tetrarchy. F. Grossi-Gondi, La battaglia di Costantino Magno a "Saxa Rubra". [4] Constantine avoided conflict with both Maxentius and the Eastern emperors for most of this period. [28] Maxentius was condemned to damnatio memoriae: all his legislation was invalidated and Constantine usurped all of Maxentius' considerable building projects within Rome, including the Temple of Romulus and the Basilica of Maxentius. Constantine was in charge of Britain and Gaul, but his brother-in-law Maxentius waged war against Galerius and seized Italy and Rome itself. Although Constantine's father, Constantinus Chlorus, was the Western emperor, the tetrarchial system in place at the time did not adhere to primogeniture.

[27] He chose to honour the Senatorial Curia with a visit,[28] where he promised to restore its ancestral privileges and give it a secure role in his reformed government: there would be no revenge against Maxentius' supporters. Toynbee. The literal meaning of the phrase in Greek is "in this (sign), conquer" while in Latin it's "in this sign, you shall conquer"; a more free translation would be "Through this sign [you shall] conquer". He has appeared on The History Channel as a featured expert.

ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/roman-empire-battle-of-milvian-bridge-2360878. Maximian's execution in 310 and Galerius' death a year later exacerbated the power struggle between Constantine and Maxentius. The Praetorian Guards made a stand on the bank of the Tiber, and they fought until the last man. He camped at the location of Malborghetto near Prima Porta, where remains of a Constantinian monument, the Arch of Malborghetto, in honour of the occasion are still extant. Lactantius states that, in the night before the battle, Constantine was commanded in a dream to "delineate the heavenly sign on the shields of his soldiers" (On the Deaths of the Persecutors 44.5). He appointed Christians to high office and gave Christian priests the same privileges as pagan ones. Maxentius was among the dead, having drowned in the river while trying to swim across it in a desperate bid to escape or, alternatively, he is described as having been thrown by his horse into the river. Oktober 312 n. Chr.. The victory was decisive in the conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity. It is commonly stated that on the evening of 27 October with the armies preparing for battle, Constantine had a vision which led him to fight under the protection of the Christian God. Constantine and the Battle of the Milvian Bridge at MilitaryHistory.about.com, Constantine the Great, the Reorganisation of the Empire and the Triumph of the Church, Lactantius account of the Battle at the Milvian Bridge, Jean-Rondolphe Perronet and the Bridges of Paris, Othniel Charles Marsh and the Great Bone Wars, Diophantus of Alexandria the father of Algebra, Basilios Bessarion and the Great Revival of Letters, Herodotus of Harlicarnassus the Father of History, The Interpretation of Dreams according to Sigmund Freud. Required fields are marked *. The accounts of the two contemporary authors, though not entirely consistent, have been merged into a popular notion of Constantine seeing the Chi-Rho sign on the evening before the battle. With his rival dead, Constantine was free to consolidate his hold over the Western Roman Empire. The underlying cause of the battle was the five-year-long dispute between Constantine and Maxentius over control of the Western Roman Empire. Some details of that vision, however, differ between the sources reporting it. The senate recognized the victor as the highest ranking Augustus, but Maxentius was now stylized as a tyrant and usurper, and finally even ahistorically portrayed by Constantinian propaganda as a persecutor of the Christians. The temporary bridge set up alongside the Milvian Bridge, over which many of the Maxentian troops were escaping, collapsed, and those stranded on the north bank of the Tiber were either taken prisoner or killed. Although Constantine was the son of the Western Emperor Constantius, the Tetrarchic ideology did not necessarily provide for hereditary succession. The day before the Battle of Milvian Bridge is believed to be of great significance for the Christian faith. Maxentius army was larger and also contained the elite Imperial bodyguard, the. Galerius himself marched on Rome in the autumn, but failed to take the city. According to this version, Constantine with his army was marching (Eusebius does not specify the actual location of the event, but it clearly is not in the camp at Rome), when he looked up to the sun and saw a cross of light above it, and with it the Greek words " ", En tout nka, usually translated into Latin as "in hoc signo vinces". Those trapped on the north bank were either captured or slaughtered by Constantine's men. [19] Already known as a skillful general, Constantine first launched his cavalry at the cavalry of Maxentius and broke them.