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</html>";s:4:"text";s:37245:"Faction fighting and civil war had become endemic. Lactantius describes that sign as a "staurogram", or a Latin cross with its upper end rounded in a P-like fashion. 1,700 years ago, the emperor Constantine marched on Rome to free Italy from the tyrant Maxentius and reunify the Roman Empire. At sight of that the battle grew hotter. 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 Battle of the Milvian Bridge took place between the Roman Emperors Constantine I and Maxentius on 28 October 312. In 308 the vicar of Africa, Lucius Domitius Alexander, revolted and proclaimed himself augustus. Construction was begun (220 B.C.) [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. Interested in participating in the Publishing Partner Program? This might have gone on indefinitely had it not been for a curious turning point in Christian, and world, history: the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 AD. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. by Caius Flaminius. His head was paraded through the streets for all to see. I cannot emphasize enough the significance of this event in world history. The Battle of Milvian Bridge was a decisive one for the continuation of the Roman Empire. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The Rise and Decline of Diocletian's Tetrarchy Between the years of 235 and 284 AD, Rome was ruled by no less than 26 emperors, but then, a soldier from Illyricum called Diocletian, seized power from Numerian (perpetuating the eternal pattern), but kept it. M.P. 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. Galerius ordered his co-Augustus, Severus, to put Maxentius down in early 307. The most important ancient sources for the battle are Lactantius, De mortibus persecutorum 44; Eusebius of Caesarea, Ecclesiastical History ix, 9 and Life of Constantine i, 28–31 (the vision) and i, 38 (the actual battle); Zosimus ii, 15–16; and the Panegyrici Latini of 313 (anonymous) and 321 (by Nazarius). In the summer of 312, Constantine gathered his troops and decided to settle the dispute by force. In 312, marching on Rome, Constantine prepared to do battle with his rival’s forces where they were awaiting him beside the River Tiber at the Milvian Bridge, a vital crossing point that had been partially dismantled to block the attackers. He was a less faithful friend to Rome itself, though. Gerberding and Moran Cruz, 55; cf. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Battle-of-the-Milvian-Bridge, Warfare History Network - Bloody Clash on the Tiber, History Today - The Battle of the Milvian Bridge. Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2015 This book, to give but the shortest summary, is exactly about what it says on its title; about Constantine's victory in the battle at the Milvian Bridge in 312 CE. The Battle of the Milvian Bridge took place between the Roman Emperors Constantine I and Maxentius on 28 October 312. Galerius, however, recognized Constantine as holding only the lesser imperial rank of Caesar. They then marched into war, accordingly, as "Christian soldiers.". On October 28, Constantine's forces arrived on the battlefield. Coins of Constantine depicting him as the companion of a solar deity were minted as late as 313, the year following the battle. Although Constantine was the son of the western emperor Constantius, the Tetrarchic ideology did not necessarily provide for hereditary succession. 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. One day before the battle, Constantine saw in the sky the sign of the cross superimposed over the sun. Galerius himself marched on Rome in the autumn, but failed to take the city. He fled towards the broken bridge; but the multitude pressing on him, he was driven headlong into the Tiber."[24]. In 63 BC, letters from the conspirators of the Catiline conspiracy were intercepted here, allowing Cicero to read them to the Roman Senate the next day. Fought by the Roman Emperor Constantine against a rival claimant to the throne, the usurper Emperor Maxentius, the battle ultimately resulted in the conversion of Constantine to Christianity. Updates? 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. The Battle of the Milvian Bridge took place between the Roman Emperors Constantine I and Maxentius on 28 October 312. It takes its name from the Milvian Bridge, an important route over the Tiber. Michael Kerrigan has written many books, including volumes on Greece and the Mediterranean and Rome for the BBC Ancient Civilizations series and. Moreover, he saw an inscription under it: “In Hoc Signo Vinae,” which meant “conquer by this sign.”Later during the night, Constantine had a dream with the sign’s explanation, where Christ appeared in front of him telling to carry the sign of the cross into the battle. It takes its name from the Milvian Bridge, an important route over the Tiber. Maxentius chose to make his stand in front of the Milvian Bridge (today the Ponte Milvio), a stone bridge that carries the Via Flaminia road across the Tiber River into Rome. This left Maximinus Daia, now…, …fought the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in the name of the Christian God, having received instructions in a dream to paint the Christian monogram () on his troops’ shields. On October 28 in 312 A.D. Constantine defeated the superior forces of his rival Maxentius at the battle of Milvian Bridge. 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. On 28 October 312 two rival Roman Emperors – Constantine and Maxentius -faced up against each other at the Milvian Bridge in Rome. The Edict of Milan, which was issued in 313, recognized Christianity as the tolerated and official religion of Rome. [4] Constantine avoided conflict with both Maxentius and the Eastern emperors for most of this period. 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. In 306 Constantine was declared emperor at York, but Maxentius claimed the imperial title in Rome. Surprisingly, he decided otherwise, choosing to meet Constantine in open battle. Maxentius came out to fight and was destroyed at the Milvian Bridge, which carried the Via Flaminia over the Tiber into the city. Constantine then ordered his infantry to push forward against Maxentius’s infantry, who were forced to fall back and found themselves without room to maneuver. It was built by Marcus Aemilius Scaurus in 109 B.C. Zosimus mentions it, vaguely, as being constructed in two parts connected by iron fastenings, while others indicate that it was a pontoon bridge; sources are also unclear as to whether the bridge was deliberately constructed as a collapsible trap for Constantine's forces or not. After Diocletian stepped down on 1 May 305, his successors began to struggle for control of the Roman Empire almost immediately. 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. Some[12] have considered the vision in a solar context (e.g. The battle gave Constantine undisputed control of the western half of the Roman Empire. [25] He staged a grand arrival ceremony in the city (adventus), and was met with popular jubilation. Pauwels Casteels - The Battle of Milvian Bridge.jpg 1,151 × 452; 142 KB. E. Marlowe, "Framing the sun. [16] Lactantius also reports that the populace supported Constantine with acclamations during circus games. Questions or concerns? The hand of the Lord prevailed, and the forces of Maxentius were routed. Arch of Constantine, Constantinian frieze, Battle of the Milvian Bridge.jpg 2,296 × 460; 361 KB. …and defeated Maxentius near the Milvian Bridge, not far from Rome. Milvian Bridge or Mulvian Bridge, Latin Pons Milvius or Pons Mulvius. This contribution has not yet been formally edited by Britannica. Historical sources, however, are not consistent and differ on certain issues as to the so-called “miracle of Constantine”. However, it also had a great impact on Christianity as well. The defining moment of the campaign was the battle of the Milvian Bridge. According to chroniclers such as Eusebius of Caesarea and Lactantius, the battle marked the beginning of Constantine's conversion to Christianity. These articles have not yet undergone the rigorous in-house editing or fact-checking and styling process to which most Britannica articles are customarily subjected. Eusebius of Caesarea recounts that Constantine and his soldiers had a vision sent by the Christian God. The sources vary as to the nature of the bridge central to the events of the battle. Maxentius’ mounted units were broken swiftly and Constantine’s infantry advanced to finish the job. Paul K. Davis writes, "Constantine’s victory gave him total control of the Western Roman Empire paving the way for Christianity to become the dominant religion for the Roman Empire and ultimately for Europe. over the Tiber near Rome as part of the Flaminian Way Flaminian Way, one of the principal Roman roads, the greatest artery from Rome to Cisalpine Gaul. consciousness than the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in AD 312.1 There are many reasons for this, most of which stem from the impact it had on the Christian church. The main significance of the victory is that it allowed Constantine to make a small sect, Christianity, the dominant religion for the empire and for Europe. Fresco of "Battle of the Milvian Bridge" by Giulio Romano, painted 1520-1524 One of a number of frescos located in the Hall of Constantine, In the Apostolic Palace, Vatican City, ItalyToday in Military History: October 28, AD 312[Today's post is an update to one originally published in 2009] Maxentius interpreted this prophecy as being favourable to himself. Speidel, 'Maxentius' Praetorians' in, This page was last edited on 22 January 2021, at 03:08. In the late 3rd century, the Emperor Diocletian oversaw a turbulent period in Rome’s history. Battle of Milvian Bridge, (28 October 312). 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. Indeed, Maxentius had organised the stockpiling of large amounts of food in the city in preparation for such an event. Constantine's men inflicted heavy losses on the retreating army. Severus was captured, imprisoned, and executed. In 109 BC, censor Marcus Aemilius Scaurus built a new bridge of stone in the same position, demolishing the old one. Constantine defeats Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge; the vision of Constantine is a Greek cross with ἐν τούτῳ νίκα written on it. Detail from The Vision of the Cross by assistants of Raphael , depicting the vision of the cross and the Greek writing "Ἐν τούτῳ νίκα" in the sky, before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. The battle of the Milvian Bridge inspired many artists and sculptors and found its reflection in many works of art, such as tapestries, paintings, and sculptures. [28] Constantine is thought to have replaced the former imperial guards with a number of cavalry units termed the Scholae Palatinae. K. von Landmann, ‘Konstantin der Grosse als Feldherr’ in J. F. Dölger (ed.). Yet those who lived in the fourth century saw the battle as just one in a list of imperial victories—and not necessarily the most significant of … Omissions? Africa was recovered by Maxentius’s praetorian prefect, but Maxentius was killed by Constantine at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312. 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. [6] He easily overran northern Italy, winning two major battles: the first near Turin, the second at Verona, where the praetorian prefect Ruricius Pompeianus, Maxentius' most senior general, was killed.[7]. 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. [5], By 312, however, Constantine and Maxentius were engaged in open hostility with one another, although they were brothers-in‑law through Constantine's marriage to Fausta, sister of Maxentius. The solar deity Sol Invictus is often pictured with a nimbus or halo. For the Bernini sculpture, see. 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. Brian Tran Professor Stefen Chrissanthos HIST 110A 9 May 2017 Battle of Milvian Bridge While Diocletian’s inauguration as emperor in 284 A.D. managed to temporarily end the anarchy and reestablish peace and order in the Roman Empire, his unprecedented retirement as emperor 21 years later would establish a period of civil war amongst the Roman generals fighting for the throne. Constantine needed no further persuasion. The battle was one of a succession of victories that in AD 324 made Constantine master of the entire Roman Empire, but it is most famous for its link with his conversion to Christianity, which would prove to be one of the most important events in world history. In the meantime, more information about the article and the author can be found by clicking on the author’s name. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [17], Maxentius chose to make his stand in front of the Milvian Bridge, a stone bridge that carries the Via Flaminia road across the Tiber River into Rome (the bridge stands today at the same site, somewhat remodelled, named in Italian Ponte Milvio or sometimes Ponte Molle, "soft bridge"). Maxentius’s forces attempted to retreat across the Tiber by way of the Milvian Bridge, but the bridge quickly became overcrowded. 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. As a means of escape during the stress of battle, however, it was wholly inadequate. G. Costa, 'La battaglia di Costantino a Ponte Milvio'. Constantine famously saw a vision before the battle which persuaded him and his army to paint the symbols of Christianity on their shields. Constantine's infantry[20] then advanced; most of Maxentius's troops fought well but they began to be pushed back toward the Tiber. His intention was to make a strategic withdrawal, protecting the flower of his force so that he would be able to mount a successful defense of Rome from the city walls. Constantine and his army inflicted heavy losses on Maxentius and his army during the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. F. Grossi-Gondi, ‘La battaglia di Costantino Magno a "Saxa Rubra"’. [11] He made more extensive use of the Chi-Rho and the Labarum later, during the conflict with Licinius. "[29] The following year, 313, Constantine and Licinius issued the Edict of Milan, which made Christianity an officially recognised and tolerated religion in the Roman Empire. Battle of Milvian Bridge, (28 October 312). 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]. 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. Corrections? W. Kuhoff, ‘Ein Mythos in der römischen Geschichte: Der Sieg Konstantins des Großen über Maxentius vor den Toren Roms am 28. It confirmed Constantine as augustus (emperor) of the western portion of the Roman Empire. [19] Already known as a skilful general, Constantine first launched his cavalry at the cavalry of Maxentius and broke them. But whereas Constantine's claim was recognized by Galerius, ruler of the Eastern provinces and the senior emperor in the Empire, Maxentius was treated as a usurper. Some details of that vision, however, differ between the sources reporting it. However, there was only one escape route, via the bridge. Zosimus). His victory owed as much to his skillful generalship as to any savior. Various emperors portrayed Sol Invictus on their official coinage, with a wide range of legends, only a few of which incorporated the epithet invictus, such as the legend SOLI INVICTO COMITI, claiming the Unconquered Sun as a companion to the emperor, used with particular frequency by Constantine. Constantine’s legions pushed Maxentius’ forces back after the latter tried to cross the river. It takes its name from the Milvian Bridge, an important route over the Tiber.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.Maxentius drowned in the Tiber during the battle. Maxentius’scavalry buckled before the impact and broke ranks. Information and translations of battle of the milvian bridge in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. However, it is important to note that many historians attribute his victory to superior tactics. The underlying causes of the battle were the rivalries inherent in Diocletian's Tetrarchy. After Diocletian stepped down on 1 May 305, his successors began to struggle for control of the Roman Empire almost immediately. The descriptions of Constantine's entry into Rome omit mention of him ending his procession at the temple of Capitoline Jupiter, where sacrifice was usually offered. It takes its name from the Milvian Bridge, an important route over the Tiber. Constantine took Rome on 29 October. [26] Maxentius' body was fished out of the Tiber and decapitated. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Realizing that Maxentius had placed his troops too close to the river, which was in their rear, he hurled his cavalry against the enemy horsemen with the utmost force. 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. [23] Lactantius describes the death of Maxentius in the following manner: "The bridge in his rear was broken down. Next day, the old banners were changed with new ones wit… Holding it was crucial if Maxentius was to keep his rival out of Rome, where the Senate would surely favour whoever held the city. Ancient sources commenting on these events attribute this decision either to divine intervention (e.g. The underlying causes of the battle were the rivalries inherent in Diocletian's Tetrarchy. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. In AD 312, Constantine I defeated his stronger rival Maxentius between this bridge and Saxa Rubra, in the famous Ba… The stone-built bridge had been reduced in width in order to keep Constantine’s forces back, so Maxentius’s men had crossed the Tiber via an improvised pontoon construction. Attacking, his troops slowly pushed back Maxentius' men until their backs were at the river. Maxentius' strongest supporters in the military were neutralized when the Praetorian Guard and Imperial Horse Guard (equites singulares) were disbanded. He eventually made what had been an obscure sect the official religion of the Roman Empire. C… Speidel, ‘Maxentius and his Equites Singulares at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge’, M.P. Just a year after the battle, the victorious Constantine made this obscure eastern religion official within the Roman … [10] Its first imperial appearance is on a Constantinian silver coin from c. 317, which proves that Constantine did use the sign at that time, though not very prominently. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. But with only a narrow strip of stone and a rocking, heaving pathway of wood as a crossing, the retreat across the Tiber became a rout as Constantine’s men surged forward from their rear. The medal is illustrated in Jocelyn M.C. Marble head of Constantine I, the only surviving piece of a giant statue that was made about 300. Battle of the Milvian Bridge by Giulio Romano, 1520-24.jpg 4,433 × 1,858; 1.43 MB Constantine the Great; the reorganisation of the empire and the triumph of the church (1905) (14793610843).jpg 1,920 × 1,324; 519 KB On 27 October, the night before the battle, it is said that Constantine had a dream: he saw the sun—the object of his own worship—overlain by the figure of a cross. It also led to his becoming the first Christian leader of Rome. 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). It was expected that Maxentius would remain within Rome and endure a siege; he had successfully employed this strategy twice before, during the invasions of Severus and Galerius. Maxentius left Rome for meeting with Constantine in the famous Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312. 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. In the spring of 312, Constantine gathered an army of 40,000 soldiers and decided to oust Maxentius himself. The battle fought at Milvian Bridge outside Rome was a crucial moment in a civil war that ended with Constantine I as sole ruler of the Roman Empire and Christianity established as the empire’s official religion. J. Moreau, ‘Pont Milvius ou Saxa Rubra?’. [21] Finally, 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. When Constantius died on 25 July 306, his father's troops proclaimed Constantine as Augustus in Eboracum (York). 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. This is the account given by the Christian apologist…, …at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312.…. Tags: battle, milvian, bridge All rights to paintings and other images found on PaintingValley.com are owned by their respective owners (authors, artists), and the Administration of the website doesn't bear responsibility for their use. Let us know. This was interpreted as a promise of victory if the sign of the Chi Rho, the first two letters of Christ's name in Greek, was painted on the soldiers' shields. Maxentius drowned in the Tiber during the battle; his body was later taken from the river and decapitated, and his head was paraded through the streets of Rome on the day following the battle … The first, shorter one in the Ecclesiastical History promotes the belief that the Christian God helped Constantine but does not mention any vision. Articles such as this one were acquired and published with the primary aim of expanding the information on Britannica.com with greater speed and efficiency than has traditionally been possible. Once Severus arrived in Italy, however, his army defected to Maxentius. by Dugit. Maxentius drowned in the Tiber during the battle; his body was later taken from the river and decapitated, and his head was paraded through the streets of Rome on the day following the battle before being taken to Africa.[3]. There is no certain evidence that Constantine ever used that sign, opposed to the better known Chi-Rho sign described by Eusebius. By the beginning of the fourth century, the Roman Empire was gradually imploding. Constantine’s conversion to the Cross may have been prompted by a dream of victory. Several of Maxentius' soldiers were either captured or slaughtered after the collapse of the Milvian Bridge. The Battle of the Milvian Bridge. 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. "[22], Maxentius was among the dead, having drowned in the river while trying to swim across it in an attempt to escape or, alternatively, he is described as having been thrown by his horse into the river. The battle fought at Milvian Bridge outside Rome was a crucial moment in a civil war that ended with Constantine I as sole ruler of the Roman Empire and Christianity established as the empire’s official religion. This had been fine for men and horses making their way slowly and carefully in the days before the battle. A bridge was built by consul Gaius Claudius Nero in 206 BC after he had defeated the Carthaginian army in the Battle of the Metaurus. In relocating the imperial capital to Byzantium (which he renamed Constantinople in his own honor), he was merely bowing to the inevitable, with barbarian pressure on the western provinces increasing year by year. Maxentius’s decision to retreat was catastrophic. Meaning of battle of the milvian bridge. [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. Lactantius, Eusebius) or superstition (e.g. Media in category "Battle of Milvian Bridge" The following 31 files are in this category, out of 31 total. In other circumstances this would have been nothing more than a setback: here, however, with no room to remarshal their ranks, the confusion was complete. [8], From Eusebius, two accounts of the battle survive. Statuettes of Sol Invictus, carried by the standard-bearers, appear in three places in reliefs on the Arch of Constantine. Less often noted is the emperor’s modesty. Oktober 312 n. Chr.’. Nixon, C.E.V. Constantine sent his cavalry to beat back the defenders’ horsemen. The Battle of Milvian Bridge and the history of the book. [13] Constantine's official coinage continues to bear images of Sol until 325/6. Maxentius’ body was fished out of Tiber River and paraded throughout the city for all to see. Constantine entered Rome on 29 October. Constantine then made an agreement with Licinius, and the two rallied the Eastern Christians to their side by guaranteeing them religious tolerance in the Edict of Milan (313). 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