The world: historical and actual . ord as a soldier,and evinced remarkable sa-gacity. Constantine did notpress his claims at once, butwas content to exercise thefunctions of a subordinateofficer, busied with the ad-ministration of affairs in theextreme Northwest. Declared Emperor at York inA. D. 306, it was not until several years later thathe openly asserted his claim. By that time Chris-tianity had made tremendous strides, and had avast number of converts. Constantine was totallydevoid of religious scruples or convictions, but hehad the wisdom to avow himself a champion of theChristian churc
The world: historical and actual . ord as a soldier,and evinced remarkable sa-gacity. Constantine did notpress his claims at once, butwas content to exercise thefunctions of a subordinateofficer, busied with the ad-ministration of affairs in theextreme Northwest. Declared Emperor at York inA. D. 306, it was not until several years later thathe openly asserted his claim. By that time Chris-tianity had made tremendous strides, and had avast number of converts. Constantine was totallydevoid of religious scruples or convictions, but hehad the wisdom to avow himself a champion of theChristian church. That rallied to his standardmultitudes of enthusiastic supporters in all parts ofthe empire, especially in the East, where he was inmost need of allies. His army had the enthusiasmof religious zealots, and they fought with a heroismwhich was irresistible. Several battles were neces-sary to the decision of the issue between the rivalCa?sars. The last battle was fought at the Melvianbridge, only three miles from Rome. Constantine. CONSTANTINE THE GREAT. had already issued the Decree of Milan, giving im-perial license for the first time, to Christianity, andavowing himself a believer in its doctrines. Enter-ing Rome in triumph, he became, A. D. 312, thefirst Christian sovereign of the world. He had pre-tended to see while marching through Gaul a visionof the cross in the heavens, inscribed with the le-gend, By this sign conquer. But the capture ofRome was not the subjugation of the entire RomanEmpire by any means, and it was not until 323 thatthe great battle between paganism and Christianity-was fought. Two mighty armies met, one underConstantine appealing tothe Christians God for suc-cor, the other under Li-cinius jxhorted to rememberthat the gods of Olympuswere many against only one,and he the Prince of defeat of the paganswas an utter rout and theshattered host sought refugein the fortress of Byzantium,from which they were soondriven. At last the surrenderwas unco
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