Constantine the Emperor

385 Pages·2012·5.05 MB·English

by  David Potter

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constantine the emperor
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Constantine
the Emperor

S
David Potter
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Potter, D. S. (David Stone), 1957-
Constantine the Emperor / David Potter.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978–0–19–975586–8 (acid-free paper) 1. Constantine I, Emperor of Rome,
d. 337. 2. Emperors—Rome—Biography. 3. Rome—History—Constantine I, the Great,
306-337. 4. Religion and state—Rome—History. I. Title.
DG315.P68 2012
937’.08092—dc23
[B]
2012010280
ISBN 978–0–19–975586–8
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
Printed in the United States of America
on acid-free paper
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contents
preface vii
abbreviations ix
map of the roman empire xv
introduction 1
part 1 i mperial resurrection 5
Chapter 1 Th e Crisis of ad 260 7
Chapter 2 Th e Renewal of the Roman Empire 20
part 2 diocletian 29
Chapter 3 Th e New Emperor 31
Chapter 4 Emperors and Subjects 35
Chapter 5 A New Look 50
Chapter 6 Persia and the Caesars 55
part 3 constantine and diocletian 65
Chapter 7 Th e Court of Diocletian 67
Chapter 8 Imperial Edicts and Moral Crusades 82
Chapter 9 Minervina 96
Chapter 10 Th e Succession 100
part 4 fathers and sons 105
Chapter 11 Th e New Regime 107
Chapter 12 Maxentius and Fausta 115
Chapter 13 Th e End of Maximian 123
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Contents
part 5 the road to rome 129
Chapter 14 Th e Gathering Storm 131
Chapter 15 Th e Battle of the Milvian Bridge 137
Chapter 16 Freedom of Worship 145
Chapter 17 Th e Conversion of Constantine 150
part 6 war and peace 161
Chapter 18 Reworking Past and Future 163
Chapter 19 Governing the Empire 172
Chapter 20 Maximus and Bassus 183
Chapter 21 Th e Donatist Controversy 193
part 7 triumph and tragedy 205
Chapter 22 Th e Defeat of Licinius 207
Chapter 23 Th e Eastern Empire 215
Chapter 24 Constantine Speaks to the Bishops 221
Chapter 25 Th e Arian Controversy 225
Chapter 26 Nicaea 233
Chapter 27 Constantinople and Rome 239
part 8 ruler of the world 249
Chapter 28 Constantine’s Government 251
Chapter 29 Constantinople 259
Chapter 30 An Ordered Society 269
Chapter 31 Christians, Pagans, and Jews 275
Chapter 32 Neighbors 285
Chapter 33 End Times 290
epilogue 292
appendix: finding constantine 301
timeline 307
dramatis personae 311
notes 317
bibliography 347
index 361
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preface
It is a pleasure to thank those who have played a role in making this book
possible. First, that means, as always, my family, both here in Ann Arbor and
in Norfolk, Connecticut, where this book began to take shape. Th en too my col-
leagues in the Department of Classical Studies at the University of Michigan,
whose congenial and collegial company makes it a pleasure to go to work, and
whose willingness to alleviate my ignorance or question my certainty is perpet-
ually engaging. I owe a great debt to the students at Michigan in whose suitably
skeptical company I have been exploring the texts that form the basis for this
book for many years. Finally, I owe special thanks to Lester Monts, Senior Vice
Provost for Academic Aff airs at the University of Michigan, whose generous
support made it possible to undertake the work in Rome that was crucial to
the completion of this book, and to Bill Martin, who has, over the years, shown
me what it means to run a large and complex organization without losing sight
of crucial values (something of which, I think, Constantine would approve).
Pete Oas helped this book take shape on many genial mornings over coff ee
in the welcoming confi nes of the Expresso Royale on Plymouth Road in Ann
Arbor; Maud Gleason was, as ever, a source of important advice, given her vast
command of the intricacies of medical literature; Robert Lister and my col-
league Ellen Muehlberger provided guidance in matters of the faith; and Laura
McCullagh showed me how to think about Helena. It is also a pleasure to thank
Professor Christopher Smith for sharing the hospitality of the British School
at Rome, and Professor Greg Woolf for his generous assistance in helping me
fi nd my way around. It is also a pleasure to thank Dr. Andrew Meadows of the
American Numismatic Society for his help with numismatic material. Harriet
Fertig and Jessica Stephens off ered a great deal of help at a late stage; the book
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Preface
is better for their careful reading and frank advice. Samantha Lash, Jonathan
McLaughlin, and Tiggy Talarico provided a great deal of important help with
the fi nal proofs, for which I am also extremely grateful.
Stefan Vranka at Oxford University Press suggested this project to me and
has provided excellent advice throughout. Most important, in helping me fol-
low that advice, has been the absolutely fantastic editorial work undertaken
by Sue Phillpott. Her effi ciency and judgment are outstanding; without her
work this book would be very diff erent. I am also very grateful to two leading
Constantinian scholars of our time, Hal Drake and Noel Lenski, for sharing
their work with me in advance of publication. Molly Morrison has managed
the production of this book with impressive effi ciency.
Finally, it is a great pleasure to dedicate this book to two very dear friends
who have helped me navigate the ancient and modern worlds for the last three
decades. Th is book then is dedicated to Robin Lane Fox and John Matthews.

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abbreviations
Act. Ab . P assio sanctorum Dativi, Saturnini presbyteri et alio-
rum . ( Acts of the Abitinean Martyrs )
Gesta con. Carth . Gesta Collationis Carthaginiensis cum Donatistis, a d 411
( Acts of the Council of Carthage with the Donatists in 411)
Amm. Ammianus Marcellinus, Latin historian, 4th century ad
Apul. Met . Apuleius of Madaura, Latin prose writer, 2nd century
ad, Metamorphoses , or Th e Golden Ass
Aristid. O r. Aelius Aristides, Greek orator, 2nd century ad,
Orations
Artem. O n . Artemidorus Daldianus, author of a work on dream
interpretation, 2nd century ad , O nirocriticus ( Th e
Interpretation of Dreams )
Ath. Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, 4th century ad
Apol. Contra Ar . Apologia contra Arianos (D efense against the Arians )
Epist . ad ep. Aeg . Epistula ad episcopos Aegypti et Libyae
et Lib. (E ncyclical Letter to the Bishops of Egypt and Libya)
Hist . Ar . Historia Arianorum ad Monachos ( History of the Arians
for the Monks )
De synod. De Synodis ( Concerning the Councils of the Church )
Aug. Augustine of Hippo, bishop and writer, ad 354–430
Ad Donat. A d Donatistas post collationem ( Against the Donatist
party aft er the Council )
Breviculus Breviculus collationis cum Donatistis ( Summary of the
Council with the Donatists )
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