"THE HISTORY"
COSTANTINO'S
ARCH |
When
Diocleziano moved the capital of the empire to Nicomedia a division
of the power became necessary to stay closer to the borders always
less safer becouse of continuous Barbarians' attacks. For this
reason was nominated Augusto of Milan Massimiano while Diocleziano
kept thew title of Augusto for the eastern provinces. Each Augusto
nominated his Ceasars: Galerio was Diocleziano's Ceasar and set
a capital in Mitrovizza, Costanzo Cloro as Massimiano's Ceasar
in Treviri. Two Augustos kept their promise to abdicate after
twenty years of goverment and pass the power to the Ceasars. Diocleziano
retired in Spalato till his death just in time to see the end
of the peace and the beginning of civil war. Costantino was Costanzo
Cloro's son while Massenzio was Massimiano's son. The 27th of
October 312 A.D. two armies leaded by Costantino and Massenzio
faced each other close to Rome and Costantino saw a lighted cross
in the sky with this inscription "In hoc signo vinces"
that means In this sign you'll win. Costantino drawn the cross
on his flag and won the battle for the power. All this story is
commemorated in 315 A.D. with this arch still well kept nowadays
before the Coliseum. The weird thing is that nothing in this arch
remember the influence of Christ on the fortune of this battle,
moreover some friezes and estatues come from other momuments of
the forum. This says much to us on the Costantino's conversion
to Christian religion. In fact he surely changed the religion
of the empire with his famous edict (there was not another one
at that point) but he also accepted to be baptized just at death's
door. |