Paper Summary:

The reasons for and the nature of Constantine's commitment to Christianity is a complicated issue. By examining Eusebius's "Life of Constantine", his "Edict of Milan", the laws of Constantine as found in the Codex Theodosius, his architectural undertakings, and the coins he issued, this paper shows that Constantine devoted himself to Christianity because he believed the Christian god afforded his victory at Milvian Bridge. However, through these sources the writer also reveals that the nature of his commitment originally was not of a genuine belief in Christian theology, but rather more of a vague monotheism.

From the Paper:

"When Constantine decided to march against Maxentius in Rome, Eusebius explains that Constantine sought the assistance from a god, knowing that he would need a "more powerful aid than an army can supply because of the mischievous magical devices practiced by" Maxentius. Eusebius then describes that Constantine had sworn an oath that he had seen a trophy in the shape of a cross resting above the sun with "By this conquer" attached to it. During the night, God had appeared in his dream with the same trophy, urging him to make a replica and use it as protection against the enemy. Baffled by these events, "those expert in his words," members of the clergy, enlightened him about the Christianity of his signs; so, Constantine became "determined to worship no other god than the one who had appeared." "

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