The Deeds Of Constantine

In the century that followed the reign of Maximin great changes came

upon the empire of Rome. The process of decline went steadily on. The

city of Rome sank in importance as the centre of the empire. The armies

were recruited from former barbarian tribes; many of the emperors

reigned in the field; the savage inmates of the northern forests,

hitherto sternly restrained, now began to gain a footing within the

borders; th Goths plundered Greece; the Persians took Armenia; the day

of the downfall of the great empire was coming, slowly but surely. One

important event during this period, the rebellion of Zenobia and the

ruin of Palmyra, we have told in "Tales of Greece." There are two other

events to be told: the rise of Christianity, and the founding of a new

capital of the empire.



From the date of the death of Christ, the Christian religion made

continual progress in the city and empire of Rome. Despite the contempt

with which its believers were viewed, despite the persecution to which

they were subjected, despite frequent massacres and martyrdoms, their

numbers rapidly increased, and the many superstitions of the empire

gradually gave way before the doctrines of human brotherhood, infinite

love and mercy, and the eternal existence and happiness of those who

believed in Christ and practised virtue. By the time of the accession of

the great emperor Constantine, 306 A.D., the Christians were so numerous

in the army and populace of the empire that they had to be dealt with

more mercifully than of old, and their teachings were no longer confined

to the lowly, but ascended to the level of the throne itself.



The traditional story handed down to us is that Constantine, in his

struggle with Maxentius for the empire of the West, saw in the sky,

above the mid-day sun, a great luminous cross, marked with the words,

"In hoc signo vinces" ("In this sign conquer"). The whole army beheld

this amazing object; and during the following night Christ appeared to

the emperor in a vision, and directed him to march against his enemies

under the standard of the cross. Another writer claims that a whole army

of divine warriors were seen descending from the sky, and flying to the

aid of Constantine.






It may be said that both these stories, though told by devout authors,

greatly lack probability. But, whatever the cause, Constantine became a

professed Christian, and as such availed himself of the enthusiastic

support of the Christians of his army. By an edict issued at Milan, 313

A.D., he gave civil rights and toleration to the Christians throughout

the empire, and not long afterwards proclaimed Christianity the religion

of the state, though the pagan worship was still tolerated.



This highly important act of Constantine was followed by another of

great importance, the establishment of a new capital of the Roman

empire, one which was destined to keep alive some shadow of that empire

for many centuries after Rome itself had become the capital of a kingdom

of barbarians. On the European bank of the Bosphorus, the channel which

connects the Sea of Marmora with the Black Sea, had for ages stood the

city of Byzantium, which played an important part in Grecian history.



On the basis of this old city Constantine resolved to build a new one,

worthy his greatness. The situation was much more central than that of

Rome, and was admirably chosen for the government of an empire that

extended as far to the east in Asia as to the west in Europe, while it

was at once defended by nature against hostile attack and open to the

benefits of commercial intercourse. This, then, was the site chosen for

the new capital, and here the city of Constantinople arose.



We have, in our first chapter, described how Romulus laid out the walls

of Rome. With equally impressive ceremonies Constantine traced those of

the new capital of the empire. Lance in hand, and followed by a solemn

procession, the emperor walked over a route of such extent that his

assistants cried out in astonishment that he had already exceeded the

dimensions of a great city.



"I shall still advance," said Constantine, "till He, the invisible guide

who marches before me, thinks proper to stop."



From the eastern promontory to that part of the Bosphorus known as the

"Golden Gate," the city extended along the strait about three Roman

miles. Its circumference measured between ten and eleven, the space

embraced equalling about two thousand acres. Upon the five hills

enclosed within this space, which, to those who approach Constantinople,

rise above each other in beautiful order, was built the new city, the

choicest marble and the most costly and showy materials being abundantly

employed to add grandeur and splendor to the natural beauty of the site.



A great multitude of builders and architects were employed in raising

the walls and building the edifices of the imperial city, while the

treasures of the empire were spent without stint in the effort to make

it an unequalled monument. In that day the art of architecture had

greatly declined, but for the adornment of the city there were to be had

the noblest productions the world had ever known, the works of the most

celebrated artists of the age of Pericles.



These were amply employed. To adorn the new city, the cities of Greece

and Asia were despoiled of their choicest treasures of art. In the Forum

was placed a lofty column of porphyry, one hundred and twenty feet in

height, on whose summit stood a colossal statue of Apollo, supposed to

be the work of Phidias. In the stately circus or hippodrome, the space

between the goals, round which the chariots turned in their swift

flight, was filled with ancient statues and obelisks. Here was also a

trophy of striking historical value, the bodies of three serpents

twisted into a pillar of brass, which once supported the golden tripod

that was consecrated by the Greeks in the temple of Delphi after the

defeat of Xerxes. It still exists, as the choicest antiquarian relic of

the city.



The palace was a magnificent edifice, hardly surpassed by that of Rome

itself. The baths were enriched with lofty columns, handsome marbles,

and more than threescore statues of brass. The city contained numbers of

other magnificent public buildings, and over four thousand noble

residences, which towered above the multitude of plebeian dwellings. As

for its wealth and population, these, in less than a century, vied with

those of Rome itself.



With such energy did Constantine push the work on his city that its

principal edifices were finished in a few years,--or in a few months, as

one authority states, though this statement seems to lack probability.

This done, the founder dedicated his new capital with the most

impressive ceremonies, and with games and largesses to the people of the

greatest pomp and cost. An edict, engraved on a marble column, gave to

the new city the title of Second or New Rome. But this official title

died, as the accepted name of the city, almost as soon as it was born.

Constantinople, the "city of Constantine," became the popular name, and

so it continues till this day in Christian acceptation. In reality,

however, the city has suffered another change of name, for its present

possessors, the Turks, know it by the name of Stambol.



An interesting ceremony succeeded. With every return of the birthday of

the city, a statue of Constantine, made of gilt wood and bearing in its

right hand a small image of the genius of the city, was placed on a

triumphal car, and drawn in solemn procession through the Hippodrome,

attended by the guards, who carried white tapers and were dressed in

their richest robes. When it came opposite the throne of the reigning

emperor, he rose from his seat, and, with grateful reverence, paid

homage to the statue of the founder. Thus it was that Byzantium was

replaced by Constantinople, and thus was the founder of the new capital

held in honor.