Constantine

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

• List of Illustrations ixPreface xAbbreviations xii1 Introduction 1Official Lies and the ‘Constantinian Question’ 2The Progress of Historical Research 6Contemporary Perspectives on Constantine 8Coins, Inscriptions and Monuments 162 The Soldier and the Stable-Girl 27The Social Status of Helena 30The Marriage of Constantine’s Parents 33Constantius’ Second Wife 38The Later Life of Helena 423 Constantine, the Ruins of Babylon and the Court of Pharaoh 46The Diocletianic Tetrarchy (293–305) 46The Appointment of New Emperors 49Constantine in the East (293–305) 51The Dynastic Coup of 305 564 The Road to Rome 61Constantine’s Proclamation and Recognition as Emperor 62Politics and Warfare 306–310 66The Vision of Constantine 74The Invasion of Italy 80Constantine in Rome and Christmas 312 83Constantinian Churches in Rome 85Appendix: The Status of Constantine 306–311 895 Brothers-in-Law 90Constantine and Licinius in Milan 90Was there an ‘Edict of Milan’? 93Towards War 97From Cibalae (316) to Chrysopolis (324) 1036 The Transformation of the East 107The Foundation of Constantinople 111An Imperial Sermon 113The Council of Nicaea 120A Christian Capital for a Christian Roman Empire 126Pro-Christian Legislation 131Constantine and Ecclesiastical Politics 140East and West in the Fourth Century 1427 Dynastic Politics after the Council of Nicaea 144The Deaths of Crispus and Fausta 144A Third Wife for Constantine? 150The Organization of the Empire 153Constantine’s Dynastic Plans 163An Astrologer’s Praise of Constantine 168Tables: Dynastic Alliances and Children of Emperors 285–337 170Appendix: The Dynastic Marriages of 335 and 336 1718 Epilogue 173Appendix A: The Career of Lactantius 176Appendix B: Galerius’ Sarmatian Victories 179Appendix C: The Panegyrici Latini and Constantine 181Appendix D: Eusebius, On Easter (De Sollemnitate Paschali) 185Appendix E: Nicagoras in Egypt 192Appendix F: Praxagoras of Athens 195Appendix G: An Anonymous Panegyric of Constantine 198Notes 201Bibliography 226Index 254

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