Details

<p>List of Illustrations ix</p> <p>Preface x</p> <p>Abbreviations xii</p> <p><b>1 Introduction 1</b></p> <p>Official Lies and the ‘Constantinian Question’ 2</p> <p>The Progress of Historical Research 6</p> <p>Contemporary Perspectives on Constantine 8</p> <p>Coins, Inscriptions and Monuments 16</p> <p><b>2 The Soldier and the Stable-Girl 27</b></p> <p>The Social Status of Helena 30</p> <p>The Marriage of Constantine’s Parents 33</p> <p>Constantius’ Second Wife 38</p> <p>The Later Life of Helena 42</p> <p><b>3 Constantine, the Ruins of Babylon and the Court of Pharaoh 46</b></p> <p>The Diocletianic Tetrarchy (293–305) 46</p> <p>The Appointment of New Emperors 49</p> <p>Constantine in the East (293–305) 51</p> <p>The Dynastic Coup of 305 56</p> <p><b>4 The Road to Rome 61</b></p> <p>Constantine’s Proclamation and Recognition as Emperor 62</p> <p>Politics and Warfare 306–310 66</p> <p>The Vision of Constantine 74</p> <p>The Invasion of Italy 80</p> <p>Constantine in Rome and Christmas 312 83</p> <p>Constantinian Churches in Rome 85</p> <p>Appendix: The Status of Constantine 306–311 89</p> <p><b>5 Brothers-in-Law 90</b></p> <p>Constantine and Licinius in Milan 90</p> <p>Was there an ‘Edict of Milan’? 93</p> <p>Towards War 97</p> <p>From Cibalae (316) to Chrysopolis (324) 103</p> <p><b>6 The Transformation of the East 107</b></p> <p>The Foundation of Constantinople 111</p> <p>An Imperial Sermon 113</p> <p>The Council of Nicaea 120</p> <p>A Christian Capital for a Christian Roman Empire 126</p> <p>Pro-Christian Legislation 131</p> <p>Constantine and Ecclesiastical Politics 140</p> <p>East and West in the Fourth Century 142</p> <p><b>7 Dynastic Politics after the Council of Nicaea 144</b></p> <p>The Deaths of Crispus and Fausta 144</p> <p>A Third Wife for Constantine? 150</p> <p>The Organization of the Empire 153</p> <p>Constantine’s Dynastic Plans 163</p> <p>An Astrologer’s Praise of Constantine 168</p> <p>Tables: Dynastic Alliances and Children of Emperors 285–337 170</p> <p>Appendix: The Dynastic Marriages of 335 and 336 171</p> <p><b>8 Epilogue 173</b></p> <p>Appendix A: The Career of Lactantius 176</p> <p>Appendix B: Galerius’ Sarmatian Victories 179</p> <p>Appendix C: The Panegyrici Latini and Constantine 181</p> <p>Appendix D: Eusebius, On Easter (De Sollemnitate Paschali) 185</p> <p>Appendix E: Nicagoras in Egypt 192</p> <p>Appendix F: Praxagoras of Athens 195</p> <p>Appendix G: An Anonymous Panegyric of Constantine 198</p> <p>Notes 201</p> <p>Bibliography 226</p> <p>Index 254</p>

<p>“This fine book is a significant achievement in a fertile era of Constantinian studies.”  (<i>Ecclesiastical History</i>, 1 July 2013)</p> <p>“I would recommend a careful reading of this book to anyone who wants to discover what we really know about Constantine.”  (<i>Open House</i>, 1 April 2012)</p> <p>"Summing Up: Essential. Upper-division undergraduates and above." (<i>Choice</i>, 1 January 2012)</p>

<b>Timothy David Barnes</b> is Professor Emeritus of the University of Toronto. He is the author of <i>Constantine and Eusebius</i> (1981), <i>The New Empire of Diocletian and Constantine</i> (1982), <i>Athanasius and Constantius: Theology and Politics in the Constantinian Empire</i> (1993), <i>Ammianus Marcellinus and the Representation of Historical Reality</i> (1998), and <i>Early Christian Hagiography and Roman History</i> (2010).

"Summing Up: Essential. Upper-division undergraduates and above." (<i>Choice</i>, 1 January 2012) <p>"I would recommend a careful reading of this book to anyone who wants to discover what we really know about Constantine." (<i>Open House</i>, 1 April 2012)</p> <p>"Barnes' hypothesis, that Constantine pursued aggressively Christian policies, is sustained through a point-by-point summation of four decades of scholarship, and vindicated by the latest innovative research. This is a powerful, polemical, and persuasive book."<br /> <b>—Paul Stephenson, University of Durham</b></p> <p>"Thirty years after <i>Constantine and Eusebius</i>, Tim Barnes has rejoined the fray of Constantinian studies. Armed with fresh evidence and characteristic vigor, blending biography, politics, and religion, Barnes has once again set the agenda for debate on topics central to the history of the later Roman world."<br /> <b>—Dennis Trout, University of Missouri</b></p> <p>Depictions of Constantine and his actions have varied widely, with modern portrayals ranging from the pious Catholic emperor depicted by Cardinal Baronius in the 16th century to the 19th century Hegelian interpretation of Constantine as an ancient Napoleon. Barnes argues that most modern representations of Constantine are rarely based on an evaluation of the relevant ancient evidence, but instead usually reflect the predilections of their creators.</p> <p>In this new and exciting investigation, Barnes develops his interpretation of the emperor first set out in his Constantine and Eusebius (1981). He is now able to strengthen his arguments and conclusions in light of the emergence of new evidence and recent research. These include especially Peter Weiss's convincing interpretation of the vision of Constantine in 1993, and Kevin Wilkinson's more recent re-dating of the poet Palladas to the reign of Constantine, which disproves the predominant scholarly belief that Constantine remained tolerant in matters of religion to the end of his reign. Barnes also investigates the marriage of Constantine's parents, Constantine's status both as a crown prince in the reign of Diocletian and as his father's legitimate successor as emperor in 306, and the dynastic politics of his reign.</p>

<p>“Barnes' hypothesis, that Constantine pursued aggressively Christian policies, is sustained through a point-by-point summation of four decades of scholarship, and vindicated by the latest innovative research. This is a powerful, polemical, and persuasive book.”<br /> <i>Paul Stephenson, University of Durham</i></p> <p>“Thirty years after <i>Constantine and Eusebius</i>, Tim Barnes has rejoined the fray of Constantinian studies. Armed with fresh evidence and characteristic vigor, blending biography, politics, and religion, Barnes has once again set the agenda for debate on topics central to the history of the later Roman world.”<br /> <i>Dennis Trout, University of Missouri</i></p>

GB