Note: This episode concludes this series. It is Episode 126 of 126. The series began on 2/19/19.
This is an occasional series of readings from and brief notes and commentary upon Eusebius of Caesarea’s The Ecclesiastical History: Book 10, chapter 8-9.
Notes and Commentary:
These final two chapters in the EH
describe the Emperor Constantine’s final victory over his rival Licinius to
unite the Roman empire and to ensure peace and security for the Christians.
Chapter 8 describes
the intrigues of Licinius against Constantine and the Christian community. Eusebius
notes that although Constantine acted graciously toward Licinius, who stood
second in rank to him, even giving his sister in marriage to Licinius, he
rejected this good will and rebelled against Constantine. In the end, however, God
proved to be Constantine’s “Friend and Protector and Guardian.”
In his rebellion, the ire of Licinius
was not just aimed at Constantine but also against the Christians. Eusebius notes
that Licinius first drove Christians from his palace and then deprived Christian
soldiers in his army of their rank.
He also passed various unjust
ordinances, including a law that forbade the humane distribution of food to
those who were imprisoned. He banished or arrested various men of nobility and
high-esteem. Eusebius also accuses Licinius of immorality in his abuse of many
married women and unwedded girls to satisfy his “unbridled lust,” calling him a
“drunken old dotard.”
In the final stages of his “madness”
Licinius struck against the bishops, putting some to death, and against the
churches, throwing them down “from top to bottom” or shutting them up. Some of
those put to death had their bodies cut to pieces with the sword and the pieces
of their body were cast in the sea as “food for fishes.” Many of the men of God
fled again to the fields, deserts, glens, and mountains to escape this
persecution.
Chapter 9 notes how
Constantine defeated Licinius. The “humane” Emperor and his son, Crispus,
stretched out “the right hand of salvation” by going into battle against “the
haters of God” and quickly won the victory.
Oulton explains in a footnote: “Licinius
was defeated first at Adrianople, 3 July and secondly, when he had fled to
Byzantium and had been forced to cross the Straits at Chrysopolis (Scutari),
September 18 or 20, 324. Shortly afterwards, Constantine had him put to death”
(476-477, n. 1).
The “pictures and honours” of
Licinius were disgraced, and he was “cast down prostrate.”
Constantine, the “most mighty
Victor,” “recovered the East” and “formed the Roman Empire, as in the days of
old, into a single, united whole.” The populace had all fear taken away and
celebrated the victory with “brilliant festivals,” as “all things were filled
with light.” Praise was given first to God and then to Constantine and his
sons.
Conclusion:
Eusebius ends the EH with
this narrative of the triumph of Constantine over Licinius and with the peace of
the Christians in the Roman Empire established. By AD 380, Christianity will be
made the official religion of the Empire by the Edict of Thessalonica issued by
the Emperor Theodosius. It continues to be debated today whether Constantine’s
embrace and protection of the church was a blessing or detriment to the Christian
movement.
JTR
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