CONSTAN TUN US, FLA!VIIJS VALE'RIUS, called the Great, the son of Constantlus Chlorue, was born in A.D. 274. lie was brought up at the court of Diocletian, and served early with the armies in various expeditions. Being in Britain at the time of his father's death, he was proclaimed emperor by the soldiers, but he prudently referred his nomination to Geletrius, who acknowledged him only ae Caesar, and goveruor of the provinces which had long been administered by his father. Constantine passing over into Gaul to oppose the Franks who had entered that province, defeated them so well as the Alemanni. lie behaved with great inhumanity to the prisoners, end gave up their chieftains to the wild beasts as a pnblie spectacle. (Eutropms, x.) Meanwhile Maxentiva, the eon of Maxlmlauus, caused a revolt at Rome while Galerius was absent in the East, and Maxi mianus himself having colon to Rome, resumed the title of emperor, and took Maxentiue as his colleague. Severus, whom Galerius ordered to put down this insurrection, was betrayed by his troops, taken prisoner, and put to death by Maximianus. The latter however fearing the vengeance of Galerius, thought of strengthening himself by an alliance with Constantine, whom he went to treat in Gaul, and gave him his daughter Feusta in marriage. From that time Con stantiue was acknowledged as Emperor by the West Soon after Ms:Mai/mus having quarrelled with his son Maxeutlue, left Rome for Panuouia, when he met, Galerius and Diocletian, who had left his retirement of Saloua for the purpose of appointing Licinius a new Caesar, in the room of Severna There were thee in the empire no lees than six emperor, and Caesars, namely, Maximianus, Maxentius, Galeria% Constantine, Maximinus, and Licinius. Galerius soon after acknowledged both Constantine and Mealtniuus, as emperors and Angusti equal to himself. Maxentius continuing to maintain himself at Rome, Maximianus visited his son-in-law Constantine, whom he attempted to dispossess of his authority by exciting his soldiers to revolt, but be was defeated and taken at Massilia by Constantine, who treated him with great indulgence, rnd allowed him to remain in his palace. Maximianus having next attempted to murder him in his bed, was seized and put to death. In the year 311 Galerias published an edict to stop the persecution against the Christians; this document bears the name of three emperors, Galerius, Constantine, and Licinius : Maximinue, who was in Asia, is not mentioned in it. Galerius soon
after dying at Sardica in Dacia, Licinina took possession of his dominion as far as the Helleapont, and Maxiininua had the whole of Asia. Maxentius continued to govern Italy, and was making warlike preparations against the other emperors, when Constantine, in 312, moved with an army from Gaul to attack him. Ele took Susa, defeated several bodies of troops sent against him by Maxentius, entered Medio lannm (Milan), and then attacked Verona, where Pompeianus, a general of Maxentins, had stationed himself. After an obstinate fight, Porn peianus was defeated and killed, and Constantine marched upon Rome, where ho defeated Maxentins in person, a few miles from the capital, on the right bank of the Tiber, near the present Ponte Milvio, where Maxentius had constructed a bridge of boats. In recrossing the bridge in his flight, Maxentius was drowned, with many of the fugitives. Constantine entered Rome on the 29th of October, and was acknow ledged emperor by the senate, who ordered the Triumphal Arch which still exists to be raised to him as the liberator of Rome. He is said to have behaved with moderation after his victory, having put to death only a few of the worst ministers of Maxentius, who is repre sented aa a cruel tyrant both by heathen and Christian historians.
It was on this occasion that Constantine adopted a new ensign for his army, which was called Labarum or Laborum; it had the figure of a cross, with the Greek letter P above it, and the Greek words lv Tare!, plea, conquer in this' Eusebius, who gives a description of it, asserts with other Christian historians, that it was assumed in conse quence of a vision which Constantine had before his battle with 31axentius. Gregorius Nazianzenms says, that the name of Laborurn was used as indicating that by the assistance of this new sign all ' labours' and tribulations of the empire should cease. Zosimne, Aurelius Victor, and Entropies, say nothing of it. Much has been written on this subject. (See Gretaer, ' De Cruce ;' and ' Dissertation stir Is Vision de Constantin,' par J. B. Devoisier, bishop of Nantes.) In the year 313 Licinius came to Rome, when both he and Con stantine were named consuls, and he married Constant's, the sister of Constantine. The old emperor Diocletian died in July of that year at Salons.