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The Bataille of the bridge Milvius opposed the October 28th 312 the Auguste of the West Constantin to Maxence. The victory of that which was going to become the emperor of Rome Constantin the Large one devotes the beginning of a new era for the entire empire.

Historical context

The conflict takes its source in the opposition between the two Césars of the West that were Constantin and Maxence. The first, wire of the emperor Constance Chlorinates, reign since the death of this one in 306 on the provinces of the west of the Gaulle and the Brittany. The second is the son of the Tétrarque Maximien and the son-in-law of Galère. The two men also have direct family ties, since Constantin was since 307 the husband of Fausta, sister of Maxence.

With died of Constancy (July 25th 306), the troops of Constantin proclaim it Auguste (October 28th 306): the title of emperor was however not hereditary at that time, and it was Maxence which with Rome had the favors for the succession. This one is made proclaim Auguste and rejoins all the Italy with its cause, while showing Constantin of rebellion and parricide. To the East, both other tétrarques Licinius and Maximin Daïa are opposed for the control of the oriental party of the empire.

With died of Maximien in 310 (it commits suicide with Marseilles) and after that of Galère in 311, the armed conflict becomes inevitable between the two emperors. After having sealed an alliance with Licinius (which marries his/her Constantia half-sister), Constantin leaves to the conquest Italy into 312.

Course of the battle

It is only when the armies of his/her brother-in-law arrive around Rome that Maxence leaves to its meeting. It lays out of the Praetorian Cohorte S , and probably of other troops of protection of the city, such as the Vigiles. The two armies clashed in Saxa Rubra (red Rocks), on Via Flaminia, with ten kilometers in the North-East of the capital. Maxence chooses to fight in front of the Bridge Milvius, a bridge of stone which current the Ponte Milvio succeeded (also called Soft Ponte ) and which overhangs the the Tiber. The possession of this bridge was essential for Maxence, because it could fear that the Roman Senate would give its favor to whoever would hold the road of Rome.

It is little before the beginning of the battle that Constantin stated to have had a vision, which appeared to him in the form of a Chrisme, formed symbol of the conjunction of the Greek letters Chi and Rho (XP), that is to say the first two letters of the word Christ; Constantin saw or heard also Εν Τουτω Νικα , translated into Latin by In hoc signo vinces - You will overcome by this sign. Although pagan, Constantin decided to make affix this symbol on the shield of his soldiers. This vision is reported by the Christian historian Eusèbe de Césarée, which says to have learned it from the mouth even of Constantin.

Exceeded of number (Eusèbe de Césarée and other commentators estimate the power struggle from 4 to 10 against 1), Constantin showed his talents of general and started to push back the enemy troops towards the Tiber. Whereas Maxence was folded up towards Rome while crossing a opening bridge (made aligned boats), its engineers taken of panic divided the fasteners of this one. The emperor and several hundreds of men drowned.

Consequences

Constantin was accommodated in Rome and was proclaimed single Roman Auguste of Occident, but always Co-emperor at the sides of Maximin and Licinius. He credited his victory in the name of God with the Chrétiens, of which he prohibits persecution on the territories that he directed, prolongation of a policy applied since 306 in the de Gaulle provinces and of Brittany. Under its protection, the Christian faith was propagated without being worried.

The overcome Praetorian troops were not reconstituted and disappear from the history of Rome after having made and demolishes several emperors. Constantin was combined in 313 with Licinius against Maximin. This alliance leads to the proclamation of the edict of Milan.

See too

The battle of the Milvius bridge inspired with Salvador Dali a large double table of the fray, intended for a stereoscopic vision in relief.

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