Crkvene studije, Ni{ / Church Studies, Nis

11-2014, 201-210
27:929 I ,
321.18:929 I ,

Vasileios D. Koukoussas
Associate Professor of Ecclesiastical History
Faculty of Theology
School of Pastoral and Social Theology
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Greece
e-mail: bilbarit@yahoo.gr

CONSTANTINE THE GREAT IN BYZANTINE HISTORIOGRAPHY

Abstract: The articles deals with the historical survey of the descriptions of
Constantine's life in the writings of the Byzantine historians, from the contemporary
Eusebius to the early 12th century Cedrenus. The shift of Constantine the Great, combined
with a radical change of the pagan world and the gradual establishment of Christianity,
gave much thought to Byzantine historians. They described important phases of
Constantines life: the vision of the Cross, which the emperor saw before the crucial battle
with Maxentius (312), the Edict of Milan (313), the foundation of New Rome
(Constantinople), and its inauguration as the new in 330. The Byzantine historians who
followed Eusebius convey an ideal image of Constantine, showing a personality that
promoted Christianity and helped it to fight with pagans and heretics.
Key words: Constantine, survey, Eusebius, Edict, Cross, New Rome.
Constantine the Great shaped, with his policy and behaviour, the history of the
Roman Empire and of the whole world. To begin with, he realized what, Caesar Galerius
(305-311) had earlier, for his own reasons, accepted in 3111: that's to say, he could not
continue the policy of persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. For this reason, in
313 he issued the great Edict of Milan2, which expressed Constantines (306-337) and
1 For the decree of Caesar Galerius see Eusebius, Vita Constantini, 8, 17, 3-10. See also, Lactantius,
De mortibus persecutorum, 34. Cfr. . , <<
>>, 15 (1937) 227-231; 233-240;
249-251 and 265-268. . , , 135. J. J. Norwich,
, , 1996, 26, 34. . , , ,
130. , 4, 170. . , , A, 128. .
, , , 2008, 53. . ,
, , , 20045, 192. . ,
,
, 2001, 58-60. . ,
, , 162-163. A. H. M. Jones, ,
19832, 71-72. P. Siviscalco, L editto di Galerio del 311, Qualque oseervazione storica alla luce della
terminologia, ARC, X, Milano 1995.
2 Decree published by Eusebius, Vita Constantini, 10, 5, 1-14 and Lactantius, De mortibus
persecutorum, 48, 2-8.

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Licinius (308-324) desire to grant equal status to the Christian citizens in their State. As it
was well known, then Licinius changed his mind and persecuted the Christians. After that
Constantine defeated Licinius, and became absolute ruler of the Roman Empire (324).
Since then, he fought for the implementation of the content of the Edict of Milan in the
Roman society, as he realized that the future of the State was connected with Christianity.
The rest of his life was a continuous effort to meet his goals, which, however, in some cases
contradicted one another each other.
As expected, the shift of Constantine the Great, which was combined with a
radical change of the pagan world and the gradual establishment of Christianity gave much
thought to contemporary historians the personality of Constantine the Great. Indeed, many
of them focused on facts and decisions of the emperor, which, according to them, changed
the history.
We will examine below how Byzantine historians described important phases of
Constantines life. A point which determined the future course of Constantine was the
vision of the Cross, which the emperor saw before the crucial battle with Maxentius (312).
This is a fact which is strongly disputed by many historians. The point is, however, that
Byzantine historians convey the fact-the first biographer and contemporary with
Constantine Eusebius of Caesarea (4th c.): << ,
,
,
>>3. The victory of Constantine, who followed the young emperor, confirmed the
Cfr. M. Anastos, The Edict of Milan, A defence of its traditional authorship and designation, REB 25
(1967) 13-41. . , , 136, 141-144. .
, , , 192-193. . ,
, 61-62. . . , , 1914, 1516. . , , 1983, 121-122. N.H. Bynnes H. St. B. Moss,
, , 1983, 385. J. J. Norwich, ,
, 35-36, 40. Idem, , 19995, 55-56. .
, , , 328-231. . , , ,
132-133. A. H. M. Jones, , 97-99. .
, , 1982, 16. R. Janin, , , 7, 887. .
, , , , , 8, 13. . ,
, (306867), 1995, , 13-14. , ,
, 20093, 39-41. . , ,
, 54. E. Horst, , , 2007, 266-267. .
, , , 163, 229-230.
3 See Eusebius, Vita Constantini, 1, 28, 2,1-4.
Cfr. J. J. Norwich, , , 29-32. Idem,, ,
19995, 52-54. . , , A, 322-329. .
, , 140. . , , , 131132, . . , , , 163, 228-229.
By other historians see Theophanes, Chronographia, 14, 2-7: <<
, .
, .
, , .

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power of the Cross, and brought him closer to the Christian religion. For this reason, his
triumphant entrance in Rome was followed by mass baptisms of idolaters and the adoption
of the cross on symbols of the (badges, coins, weapons, etc.)4.
Then, the state was in favor of Christians, but it did not turn against pagans,
despite Eusebius enthusiastic suggestion5. Constantine turned against pagans only in cases
when the latter offended morality and promoted promiscuity6. According to the historical
pagan Zosimus (5th cent. 6th-early), the emperor erected pagan temples: <<
,
<> ,
,

,
>>7.
Another incident, which Byzantine historians considered important, was in 324 the
foundation of New Rome (Constantinople), and its inauguration as the new in 330.
Contemporary with Constantine historians understood the importance of the development
mentioned above, since the East became the new political and ecclesiastical centre, and
later historians were able to experience the new reality. Those historians described proudly
its splendid construction: <<
,
,
8

>> .
>>. See also Sozomenus, Historia Ecclesiastica (5th
cent.), 1, 3, 1,3 -1, 3, 4,1. Lactantius, De mortibus persecutorum, 44.
4 See. Eusebius, Vita Constantini, 1, 29, 1,1 1, 31, 3,3; 1, 39, 3,1 1, 40, 2,8; 2, 6, 1,1 2, 8, 1,4.
3, 2, 2,5 3, 3, 3,1 and 21, 1,1-4. See also, Sozomenus, Historia Ecclesiastica, 1, 3, 3,11, 3, 4,1.
Theophanes, Chronographia, 14, 24-28. Cfr. J. J. Norwich, , , 29-32. Idem,
, 19995, 56. . , , , 322323. . , , 140-141. . ,
, , 163, 228-229.
5 See Eusebius, Vita Constantini, 2, 45, 1,1 - 2, 45, 2,1; 4, 25, 1,1 -4, 25, 2,1. Also see Theophanes,
Chronographia, 16, 12-26. 24 , 1-5 and 28, 32-34.
6 See Eusebius, Vita Constantini, 3, 54, 2,1 3, 54, 5,1; 3, 55, 1,1 3, 57, 3,5; 3, 58, 1,1 3, 58, 4,5
and 4, 25, 1, - 4, 25, 2,1. Cfr. . , , 144. .
, , 331-332. . , , , 135-136.
. , ,
, 20032, 46-49. A. H. M. Jones, ,
112-113. J. J. Norwich, , 65. . ,
, , 231.
7 See Zosimus, Historia Nova, 2, 31, 1,1-9. See also Cod. Theod. 9, 16, 1-2and 11, 2, 5. .
. , , 144. J. J. Norwich, ,
, 42. . , , 331. . , ,
, 231.
8 See. Eusebius, Vita Constantini, 3, 48, 1,1 - 3, 48, 2,1. See also Themistius, Filadelfi (5th c.), 82c,10
84a,10. Socrates, Historia Ecclesiastica, 1, 16, 1-2. Sozomenus, Historia Ecclesiastica, 2, 3, 3,1 2, 3, 8,1.
Chronicon Pascale, 527,18 529,7. Theophanes, Chronographia, 23, 23 24,1; 28-23-29. Georgius
Monachus, Chronicon, 2, 499,8 501,4. Zonaras, Epitome Historiarum, (12th c.), 1, 10, 10-31.

203

Of course, we must no fail to recognize Constantines contribution to the

convening of the First Ecumenical Council: <<
,
,
>>9, that led to the condemnation of Arianism and
consolidation of Orthodoxy, highlighting clearly, that the divisions among Christians did
not move the Emperor emotionally: <<
>>10.
Finally, an issue of dispute among the historians of Byzantium is who baptized
Constantine, shortly before his death. Eusebius of Caesarea mentions, that the Emperor was

Cfr. J. J. Norwich, , , 50, 52-58. Idem, ,

61-64. . , , , 99-102. R. Roberson, Patriarcato di
Constantinopoli, DEOC, 586. . , , , 138-141,
. ... . ,
, (284-717), 1996, , 31-32, 34-35. . ,
, , 232.
9 See Eusebius, Vita Constantini, 3, 6, 1,1 3, 6, 2,1. Ibid 3, 6,2,1 -14, 1,5; 3, 16,1,1 3, 21, 3,7. See
also, Socrates, Historia Ecclesiastica, 8,1 -9,46. Sozomenus, Historia Ecclesiastica, 3,1 -3,3. Georgius
Monachus, Chronicon, 509,3-18. Theophanes, Chronographia, 21,11 22,11. Cfr., inter alia, J. J.
Norwich, , , 44-47. Idem, , 57-58. .
, 5 , 1992, 270. .
, , 160-161. . . Vasiliev,
, 1995, 78. . , , , 413-469. Idem,
, ,
, 1974, 20-21, 34-39, 101. ,
, , 1990, 129.
. , ,
19612, , 108. Idem, , , 9, 690-691. ,
, , 1930, 6566.49, 53-54. . , , , 14. . , ,
, , , 1987, 21-26. . ,
, 1986, 50, 286, 291-292. G.
Ostrogorsky, , 2002, , 106-107. S. Runciman,
, 24. P. Th Camelot, Die cumenischen Konzile des 4. und 5. Jahrhunderts,
DKUDK, 55, 62. R. Person, The mode of Theological Decision, 15, 53. A. Grillmeier, The origins of
the counciliar idea, 115, 121, 122. H. Jedin, Breve Storia dei Concili, I venti concili ecumenici nel
quadro della storia della Chiesa, Roma 19624, 20, 21. G. Alberigo, G. Dosseti Pericle, P. Ioannou, Cl.
Leonardi, P. Prondi, COnciliorum Oecumenicorum Decreta, Bologna 1991, 1. W. De Vries, Orient et
Occident: les structures ecclsiales vues dans lhistoire des sept premiers conciles cumniques, Paris
1974, 13-42. F. M. Young, From Nicaea to Chalcedon, London 1983. R. P. C. Hanson, The Search
for the Christian Doctrine of Good: The Arian Controversy 318-381, Edinburg 1988. A. Papadakis,
Nicaea Councils, ODB 2, 1464-1465. P. L Huillier, The Church of the Ancient Councils: The
Disciplinary Work of the First Four Ecumenical Councils, Crestwood, NY 1996, 17-100. .
, , , 115-119. . ,
, , 135, 137, 176. . , , , 232. . ,
, 24-26. E. G. Farrugia, Nicea I, concilio ecumenico, DEOC, 524-525.
10 See Sozomenus, Historia Ecclesiastica, 1, 16, 1,3 1, 16, 2,1. Cfr. . ,
, , 115. J. J. Norwich, , , 42.

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baptized by Eusebius of Nicomedia11, who was not an orthodox and had accepted the ideas
of Arius. Others being unable to understand that the defender of Orthodoxy was baptized by
a bishop who was not an orthodox, adopted the incorrect opinion of the Church of Rome,
that the baptism took place in Rome or in Jerusalem, by Silvester the Pope of Rome:
<< ,
. ,
.

,
. , ,

.
>>12. This position is reflected clearly in the narration of Theophanes (8th to 9th
c.): <<<< , , , ,
,
,
.

. , , ,
.
>>13. It is noteworthy, that Theophanes opinion, according to which
Constantine was baptized by Eusebiusof Nicomedia was due to rumors spread by the
Arians: <<
, ,

,
, >>14.

11 For the baptism of Constantine by Eusebius of Nicomedia see, inter alia,Eusebius, Vita
Constantini, 4, 61,1-4, 62,4.
12 See Malalas, Chronographia, 317,5-16. Also see. Liber Pontificalis, I, 275. Cedrenus,
Compendium Historiarum, (11th-early 12th century), 1, 475,5-476,17. <<
, >>, in E.
Nestle, <<Die Kreuzauffindungslegende, Nach einer Handschrifft vom Sinai>>, 4 (1895) 4
(1895) 330. (Cfr. . , , 144-145. . ,
, 233. , , 11, 147. . , ,
, 333. Ant. Lopez, The Popes, The live of the pontiffs through 2000 years of history, Rome 2005,
11. . , , 1994, 110. Cl. Rentina, I papi,
Storia e segreti, Dalle biografie dei 264 romani pontefici rivivono retroscena e misteri della cattedra
di Pietro tra antipapi, giubilei, conclave e concili ecumenici, Roma 2005, I, 79. . ,
, 232-233. . , ,
(306-867), 1995, , 19. J. J. Norwich,
, , 66. , , 69.
13 See Theophanes, Chronographia, 17,24 18,2.30
14 See Theophanes, Chronographia, 33, 17-22.

205

Byzantine historians respected and admired Constantine the Great. Except for the
single fact mentioned above, his actions about Orthodoxy were totally positive.
Socrates Scolasticus (4th-5th c.) notes, that Constantine put an end to the
persecution of the Christians, while he was acting as a Christian: <<
, ,
, ,
. , ,
, ,
,
, ,
>>15.
Theophanes the Confessor, chronicler of the 8th-9th century says that Constantine
supported the Church in various ways: <<

, ,
.

,
.
(
) ,
>>16.
Similar to Theophanes is the story of George the Monk, chronicler of the 9th
century: << ,
,
, ,

, >>17.
If we look back to historians that lived later, we note that they presented and ideal
image of the emperor. John Zonaras (12th c.) characterizes him as equal to the Apostles:
<< >>18, while George Cedrenus (11th-early 12th century),
referring to the Edict of Milan, focuses on the fact, that now the state can not turn gainst
Christians: << >>19.
Consequently, the historians who lived after Eusebius of Caesarea did not focus on
the Edict of Milan, but they described briefly the points that made the Christians equal with
the pagans, and gave them an equal place in the Roman society. Constantine is presented
as the defender of the Christian faith, and as a persecutor of idolatry.

15 See Socrates, Historia Ecclesiastica, 1, 2,49 1, 3,4.

16 See Theophanes, Chronographia, 15,28 16,19.
17 See Georgius Monachus, Chronicon, 489,19-490,7. A similar view of Cedrenus, Compendium
Historiarum, 1, 478, 4-9.
18 See Zonaras, Epitome Historiarum, 1, 10, 19-20.
19 See Cedrenus, Compendium Historiarum, 1, 477, 21-22.

206

We would argue that the Byzantine historians who followed Eusebius convey,
largely an ideal image of Constantine the Great, showing a personality that promoted
Christianity and helped him to fight with pagans and heretics. The Emperor encouraged his
mother Saint Helen to discover the Holy Cross and to erect magnificent churches:
<<
>>.20
The above description of Constantine the Great by all historians, Christians and
pagans, is primarily due to the strong personality of the Emperor, who again joined the
divided Roman Empire, and gave her strength and perspective. He was the leader who
supported religious freedom, did not pursue the idolaters, and sought the unity of
Orthodoxy, which is connected with the universal perspective of the state. The lack of
references to the Edict of Milan is, in our opinion, due to the fact that the Christian faith
became the official religion of the empire, with the edict of Theodosius the Great, being
issued in Thessaloniki in 380. The religious policy of the empire had changed and
Christianity was the official religion of the State. The Orthodox ethos influenced the
Byzantine society, its traditions, morals, law. According the byzantine historians,
Constantine was the initiator of that change, namely the emperor who changed the pagan
society into a Christian era.
Abbreviations
= Byzantinische Zeitschrift, Mnchen
Cod. Theod. = Codex Theodosianus, ed. Th. Momsen, Hildesheim 1990
Chronicon Pascale = Chronicon Pascale, ed. L. Dinforf, Chronicon pascale, Bonn
1832
Cedrenus, Compendium Historiarum = Georgius Cedrenus, Compendium
Historiarum, ed. Weber, Georgius Cedrenus Ioannis Scylitzae ope, 2 vols, CSHB, Bonn
1838-1839.
CSEL = Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum
CSHB = Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantine
DEOC = Dizionario Enciclopedico dell Oriente Cristiano, A cura di Edward G.
Farrugia, S.J., Roma 2000
DGCS = Die Griechischen Christlichen Schriftsteller
E =
Eusebius, Vita Constantini = Eusebius, Vita Constantini ,Winkelmann, Eusebius
Werke, Nand 1.1: ber das Leben des Kaisers Konstantin, DGCS, Berlin 1975

20 See Socrates, Historia Ecclesiastica, 1, 17,48 1, 17,50. Also see ibid, 1, 17,1 1, 17,47.
Eusebius, Vita Constantini, 3, 25, 1,1 -3, 26, 2, 1; 3, 43, 1,1 3, 43, 5,1. Theophanes, Chronographia,
23, 14-22; 26, 19-21 and 26,29 27,9. <<
, >>, 4 (1895) 319-345. See
. , , 317-318. J.J. Norwich, ,
, 22-23, 58-59. Idem, , 62, 64-65. . ,
, , 332-333, 919, 922. . , , , 232.

207

Georgius Monachus, Chronicon = Georgius Monachus, Chronicon, ed. C. De

Boor, Georgii monachi Chronicon, Leipzig 1904 (rpl 1978)
Lactanius, De mortibus persecutorum = Lactanius, De mortibus persecutorum
(314-315), . S. Brandt, G. Laubmann, CSEL, 27, Vindobonae 1897, ed. J. Moreau, SC,
39, Paris 1954
Malalas, Chronographia = Ioannis Malalae, Chronographia, ed. Weber, CSHB,
Bonn 1831.
DB = The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, I-II, New York Oxford 1991
REB = Revue des tudes Byzantines
Theophanes, Chronographia = Theophanes, Chronographia, ed. C. De Boor,
Theophanis Chronographia, vol. I, Leipzig 1883 (rpl Hildesheim 1963)
=
SC = Sources Chrtiennes
Socrates, Historia = Byzantinische Zeitschrift, Mnchen
Cod. Theod. = Codex Theodosianus, ed. Th. Momsen, Hildesheim 1990
Chronicon Pascale = Chronicon Pascale, ed. L. Dinforf, Chronicon pascale, Bonn
1832
Cedrenus, Compendium Historiarum = Georgius Cedrenus, Compendium
Historiarum, ed. Weber, Georgius Cedrenus Ioannis Scylitzae ope, 2 vols, CSHB, Bonn
1838-1839.
CSEL = Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum
CSHB = Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantine
DEOC = Dizionario Enciclopedico dell Oriente Cristiano, A cura di Edward G.
Farrugia, S.J., Roma 2000
DGCS = Die Griechischen Christlichen Schriftsteller
E =
Eusebius, Vita Constantini = Eusebius, Vita Constantini ,Winkelmann, Eusebius
Werke, Nand 1.1: ber das Leben des Kaisers Konstantin, DGCS, Berlin 1975
Georgius Monachus, Chronicon = Georgius Monachus, Chronicon, ed. C. De
Boor, Georgii monachi Chronicon, Leipzig 1904 (rpl 1978)
Lactanius, De mortibus persecutorum = Lactanius, De mortibus persecutorum
(314-315), ed. S. Brandt, G. Laubmann, CSEL, 27, Vindobonae 1897, ed. J. Moreau, SC,
39, Paris 1954
Malalas, Chronographia = Ioannis Malalae, Chronographia, ed. Weber, CSHB,
Bonn 1831.
DB = The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, I-II, New York Oxford 1991
REB = Revue des tudes Byzantines
Theophanes, Chronographia = Theophanes, Chronographia, ed. C. De Boor,
Theophanis Chronographia, vol. I, Leipzig 1883 (rpl Hildesheim 1963)
=
SC = Sources Chrtiennes
Socrates, Historia Ecclesiastica = Socrates, Scolasticus, Historia Ecclesiastica, ed.
P. Maraval and Prichon, Socrate de Constantinople, Histoire Ecclsiastique, (Livres I-VII),
Paris 2004-2007

208

Sozomenus, Historia Ecclesiastica = Sozomenus, Historia Ecclesiastica, ed. J.

Bidez and G. G. Hansen, Sozomenus, Kirchengeschichte, DGCS 50, Berlin 1954
Symmachus = Q. Aurelii Symmachi, Epistorlarum, Libri decem, PL 18, 145408.
Themistius, Filadelfi = Themistius, ed. G. Downey, Tgemistii orations quae
supersunt, vol. 1, Leipzig 1965
Zonaras, Epitome Historiarum = Ioannis Zonarae, Epitome historiarum, ed. T.
Bttner-Wobst, Ioannis Zonarae epitome historiarum, libri xviii, vol. 3, CSHB, Bonn 1897.
Zosimus, Historia Nova = Zosimus, Historia Nova, ed. F. Paschoud, Zocime,
Histoire nouvelle, vols. 1-3,2, Paris 1971-1989
Socrates, Ecclesiastica Ecclesiastica = Socrates Scolasticus, Historia
Ecclesiastica, ed. P. Maraval and Prichon, Socrate de Constantinople, Histoire
Ecclsiastique, (Livres I-VII), Paris 2004-2007
Sozomenus, Historia Ecclesiastica = Sozomenus, Historia Ecclesiastica, ed. J.
Bidez and G. G. Hansen, Sozomenus, Kirchengeschichte, DGCS 50, Berlin 1954
Symmachus = Q. Aurelii Symmachi, Epistorlarum, Libri decem, PL 18, 145408.
Themistius, Filadelfi = Themistius, ed. G. Downey, Tgemistii orations quae
supersunt, vol. 1, Leipzig 1965
Zonaras, Epitome Historiarum = Ioannis Zonarae, Epitome historiarum, ed. T.
Bttner-Wobst, Ioannis Zonarae epitome historiarum, libri xviii, vol. 3, CSHB, Bonn 1897.
Zosimus, Historia Nova = Zosimus, Historia Nova, ed. F. Paschoud, Zocime,
Histoire nouvelle, vols. 1-3,2, Paris 1971-1989

209




, .
: , ,

,
.
.

210