Vasilief, A History of the Byzantine Empire

The empire from Constantine the Great to Justinian

The Conversion of Constantine

Page 5

Opinions of various scholars on this subject differ widely. P. Batiffol defended the sincerity of Constantine's conversion, and more recently J. Maurice, a well-known scholar in the field of numismatics of Constantine's time, attempted to substantiate the miraculous element in his conversion. Boissier noted that for Constantine the statesman to deliver himself into the hands of the Christians, who constituted a minority and were of no political importance, would have meant a risky experiment; therefore, since he did not change his faith for political reasons, it must be admitted he did it through conviction. F. Lot was inclined to accept the sincerity of Constantine's conversion. E. Stein maintained a political reason. The greatest significance of Constantine's religious policy, he said, is the introduction of the Christian Church into the organism of the State, and he presumed that Constantine was influenced to some extent by the example of the Zoroastrian state church in Persia. H. Gregoire wrote that policy always takes precedence over religion, particularly external policy. A. Piganiol said that Constantine was a Christian without knowing it.  

However, the conversion of Constantine, generally connected with his victory over Maxentius in 312, should not be considered as his real conversion to Christianity; he actually adopted the religion in the year he died. During his entire reign he remained the pontifex maximus; he never called Sunday anything but the day of the sun (dies solis); and the invincible sun (sol invictus) at that period usually meant the Persian God, Mithras, whose worship was spread throughout the Empire, in the East as well as in the West. At times this cult of the sun was a serious rival to Christianity. It is certain that Constantine was a supporter of the cult of the sun; such devotion was hereditary in his own family. In all probability his sol invictus was Apollo. Maurice observed that this solar religion assured him an immense popularity in the Empire.  

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