A Child of the King

A challenge in the Medieval course is "where to begin?" To begin with the collapse of Rome in 476 seems to miss the mark. What events really ushered in this very unique era? This year, I have decided to begin with Constantine. He was the first Christian Emperor of Rome. He seized power at a time when Christians were experiencing some of their worst persecution under the Emperor Diocletian and his temporary successor, Galerius. Constantine was quite the underdog when he defeated Maxentius and his troops at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. This victory resulted in Constantine becoming the Emperor of the western portion of the Roman Empire (Europe). In 324, Constantine became the sole Emperor over the entireity of the Empire.



The Battle of the Milvian Bridge should have been a demoralizing defeat for Constantine, but he had experienced his own "Damascus Road" encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. Constantine's heart and future changed in an instant. Many accounts have been written about this encounter, and probably embelished for the sake of interesting posterity. Christ may have spoken to Constantine in a cloud formation dramatically splayed across the heavens, but my guess is that He spoke with this man in that "still, small voice."

Skeptics (read: secular historians, who dominate this field) have always tried to portray this conversion as contrived and opportunistic. But they're ignoring facts. To be an open Christian in
312 was not exactly "running with the big dogs." Constantine stood nothing to gain in worldly terms by becoming a follower of Christ.

During his reign as Emperor of the western Empire and then the entire Roman Empire, Constantine used his influence to strengthen the Church and to unify it against the threat of heretical doctrines that were "creeping into" the teachings of the day. Costantine knew his reign was temporal, but that the God he served is eternal. I am grateful for this warrior King who became
"A Child of the King."