Overview of Constantine’s Role in Christianity
Constantine the Great is widely known as the ruler of the Roman Empire in the 4th century. He is well remembered for proclaiming Christianity as the official religion of the empire, a key event in Early Christian history. Did Constantine really create Christianity? The answer to this question is not so simple, as it involves looking at Constantine’s policy, the influence of his many subordinates, and the evolving cultural forces of the time.
Changes Prior to Constantine
Before Constantine’s rule, the Roman Empire was divided by different religions. The official religion was the one that was inherited from Greece, Paganism. It had been the state religion since the time of the emperors, starting with Augustus. However, at the time of Constantine, it had begun to decline. Across the empire, Christianity was slowly and gradually gaining adherents.
Numerous persecutions and martyrdoms of Christians during the previous century had been conducted under specific emperors in specific regions of the empire. But overall, Christianity had become increasingly accepted. Throughout the empire in the 3rd and 4th centuries, the number of Christian communities and churches was rising. There were even Christian leaders who were appointed by local authorities, and this was a first.
Constantine was familiar with Christianity, having grown up in a household with a Christian mother. He had also grown up amidst a political system in which various forms of Christianity were tolerated, and more recently, sometimes even favored.
At the start of his reign, Constantine appears to have chosen to strengthen Christianity’s legal and social status, but his actions and motivations in doing so remain hotly debated.
The Edict of Milan and Legalization of Christianity
In 313 CE, just four years after coming to power, Constantine issued an edict of toleration, known as the Edict of Milan. In this Edict, Constantine declared Christianity to be equal in rights to Paganism and it formally abolished the death penalty which was used to prosecute Christians.
The Edict of Milan marked the beginning of a period of legal acceptance of Christians in the Roman empire and this period continued until Justinian, in the 6th century. After the Edict of Milan, Christians were not just tolerated but were granted a range of rights, including the right to build churches, to hold religious ceremonies and to form associations.
In addition, Constantine made further attempts to officially promote Christianity. In 325, he called the Council of Nicaea, in an attempt to unify the various denominations of Christianity. In 329, he also founded Constantinople, a full-fledged Christian city-state.
Influence of Subordinates
It is likely that Constantine was heavily influenced by both his direct subordinates and his family in his decisions. He was a ruler of a large and powerful empire and he had the authority to implement change. It is possible that he was persuaded by his influential subordinates and family to give Christianity a greater legal protection and a certain degree of favouritism.
The most influential among his subordinates was his Praetorian Prefect, Theophilus. He may have encouraged Constantine to issue the Edict of Milan and later, the Council of Nicaea. Theophilus was a Christian and a strong champion for Christianity, and he was likely one of the people who advocated for the status of Christianity.
In addition, Constantine’s family also likely played a key role in his promotion of Christianity. The Emperor’s mother, Helena, was a devout Christian and she appears to have had a considerable influence on him. She was by his side throughout his reign, and she was actively involved in the Church’s activities.
The Growing Strength of Christianity
At the same time, the Christian religion was gaining strength on its own, independent of the actions of Constantine. At the end of the 3rd century and the beginning of the 4th, the Christian communities in the empire had become increasingly organized, with the semblance of a church bureaucracy. The number of adherents also increased, especially in the East.
The theology of the Christian faith became more sophisticated as well. Theology had to evolve to counter the various Christian faiths which were vying for dominance. It became tougher, more organized and more uniformly embraced. All of this, independent of the Edict of Milan issued by Constantine, was increasing the strength of Christianity within the empire.
Changes to His Policies
Constantine’s policy towards Christianity gradually shifted from a form of toleration to a more specific form of endorsement. This shift can be seen in his Code of Laws, which was designed to unify the laws of the Empire and provide legal rights to all. These laws established Christianity as the official religion of the Empire and declared that anyone who would not follow Christianity would be fined or exiled.
Disputed Legacy
The legacy of Constantine is contested. On the one hand, it is undeniable that he helped bring an end to the persecution of Christians and granted them a certain degree of legal equality. On the other hand, he was also involved in a process of religious persecution aimed at several other religions.
Constantine’s actions had a large and long-term effect on the Roman Empire, as Christianity grew and became more organized as a result of his law and policy changes. He is therefore rightly credited with being a major influence in the transformation of Christianity from a minority faith to the state religion.
The Rise of Christianity Post Edict of Milan
The Edict of Milan has often been credited with being the ‘turning point’ for Christianity, both in terms of its legal acceptance and its rapid increase in numbers. By the early 5th century, it is estimated that Christianity had become the largest religion in the Roman Empire and this was largely due to the Edict of Milan.
After the Edict, Christianity spread rapidly. Missionaries, who had long been working on the outskirts of the empire, now made their way into the empire’s centers, much of it due to Constantine’s law changes which allowed for the free dissemination of Christianity.
The Explosion of Monasteries
Constantine’s edict also irreversibly changed the religious landscape of the Roman Empire. After the Edict, Christianity began to flourish and religious establishments and associations became more common. The most prominent of these were the monasteries, which became more established and numerous in the wake of the edict.
These monasteries were centers of Christian learning and were responsible for the spread of theology and teaching. Monasteries also began to serve as churches, school, and hospitals. They were an important part of the religious landscape, and they spread from Constantine’s founding of the new capital Constantinople throughout the Roman Empire.
Re-Evaluating Historiography about Constantine
Historians have long debated the legacy of Constantine and how much credit we should give him for the transformation of Christianity in the Roman Empire. While there is no question that Constantine played a key role in the transformation, historians have also suggested that the transformation may have taken place regardless of Constantine’s actions and that his actions should be seen as less significant than they are often portrayed.
It is important to re-examine the historiography of Constantine and the Edict of Milan and to give a more balanced view of the role they played in the transformation of Christianity. While it is undeniable that the edict ushered in a period of Christian acceptance and helped to bring an end to persecution, it is also worth considering that Christianity was already a growing and powerful force prior to Constantine’s reign.
Ongoing Growth of Christianity
The Edict of Milan ushered in a period of unprecedented Christian acceptance. But it was just the beginning. Christianity continued to grow and evolve in the 5th and 6th centuries, as local churches and bishops gained authority and churches began to grow in size.
Constantine also changed the laws to provide legal protection and social status to Christians. It was not until the reign of Justinian in the 6th century that the legal acceptance of Christianity had been fully stamped out.
This shows that the acceptance of Christianity was a slow process, and that it continued well after the Edict of Milan. This demonstrates that Constantine’s Edict of Milan played an important role in the development of Christianity, although it was not the only one.
Political Consequences
The acceptance of Christianity had major political consequences for the Roman Empire. Christianity was no longer just tolerated but actively promoted and provided with legal protection. Christianity was also given a great deal of influence in the administrative and political structure of the empire.
Constantine’s Edict of Milan allowed Christians to advance up the ranks of the imperial bureaucracy, with some eventually reaching the highest position of the empire. This was a major shift in the political power dynamics of the time and was a turning point in the history of the Roman Empire.
Social Impact of Christianity
Christianity also had a direct impact on society and culture. Its ethical teachings evolved and became more influential, as did its liturgical practices. Its liturgy and songs, which originated with the Early Church Fathers, came to define religious culture in the empire.
As Christianity became increasingly intertwined with empire and state, it began to assume roles previously reserved for the state, such as education and public welfare. The elderly, the poor, and the sick were all beneficiaries of this new form of social aid, something which had been virtually non-existent in prior Roman societies.
Conclusion
Constantine’s Edict of Milan marked a major shift in Christian-Roman relations, opening the door to a period of acceptance and legal protection for Christians throughout the Empire. His policy of toleration and promotion of Christianity had a long-lasting impact on both the political and social landscape of the Roman Empire, and it is an event which will be remembered in history books.
While it is debatable to what extent Constantine should be credited with creating Christianity, it is certain that his actions played an important role in its rise and subsequent success.
