# First Christian Emperor

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Posted by Constantine [Beaver] on November 01, 1999 at 02:57:58 {2gTL9dbN6kS2pgVcL2CgJusvla2o4k}:

Constantine added important elements to the new order. Crucial was his religious policy. In 313 he issued the Edict of Milan, which gave Christians the legal right to practice their religion. Shortly before he had become a Christian himself. A vision and a dream persuaded him that acceptance of the cross would assure victory in a decisive battle. While hailed by Christians as vindication of their faith, it has been suggested that Constantine's edict of toleration and conversion were only calculated political moves. He was baptized only just before his death and throughout his reign he continued to recognize paganism. Probably he did hope to gain political advantage from recognizing the new religion. An unsuccessful attempt by Diocletion to destroy Christianity had shown its strength; the zealous adherents of the faith would be valuable allies if won to an emperor's cause. Perhaps Constantine hoped that the new faith would serve to revive flagging Roman patriotism. A Rome dedicated to serve the Christian God and ruled by a Christian emperor might
again attract the enthusiastic support of the citizenry. But along with these political considerations must be counted Constantine's religious convictions. His mother, Helena, was a Christian. His own writings and the testimony of his contemporaries indicate that he was attracted to the kind of religious ideas presented by Chrisitianity. Death-bed baptisms were usual in his day. It was beyond his power to destroy paganism at will. There is good reason, then, to admit that Constantine was the first Christian emperor.
Quote from "A Short History of Western Civilization" by Harrison and Sullivan.

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