Constantine

March 29, 2010
Stephenson, a historian at the University of Durham, successfully combines historical documents, examples of Roman art, sculpture, and coinage with the lessons of geopolitics to produce a complex biography of the Emperor Constantine. Rather than the divinely guided hero of legend who singlehandedly brought pagan Rome to Christian orthodoxy, Constantine is depicted as very much a product of his political environment. Recognizing the growing influence of the Christian Church, he adapted the generally pacifist faith to the Roman “theology of victory” and created a newly militant Christianity that would sustain his rule. Constantine wisely sought to impose religious toleration on the diverse Roman Empire while discouraging “trivial” disputes among the Christian faithful. Stephenson examines the variety of religious beliefs in the early fourth century with emphasis on Mithraism, a pagan mystery cult practiced by pre-Constantine soldiers, and on the bitter divisions within victorious Christianity that ultimately led to the Council of Nicaea. Constantine is revealed as a master politician who, while delaying his own baptism for reasons not fully explained in the text, became the ruler of both church and state. 24 pages of illus.; 8 maps.

March 15, 2010
Scholar Stephenson (History/Univ. of Durham; Byzantium's Balkan Frontier: A Political Study of the Northern Balkans, 900–1204, 2000, etc.) offers a stately though academic biography of the first Roman emperor who converted to Christianity, with a heavy emphasis on the archaeological record.

The author draws on the latest research in this complicated early Byzantine era to fashion a fairly readable work, especially in terms of his treatment of the early spread of"the cult" of Christianity. Constantine (272–337) was the son of an army officer on the rise and a Christian mother Stephenson calls a"barmaid," who might not have been legally married. As his father's star rose in the Roman military, he and his mother, Helena, now replaced by a more suitable wife, were consigned to the provinces. When his father acceded into the first Tetrarchy, the youth's own military career ensued in earnest and he grew into an experienced campaigner. First incorporated into the second Tetrarchy along with his father, Constantine, purportedly had a vision at the Battle of Milvian Bridge (where he erected the monumental Arch of Constantine) describing the godhead as in Revelations. His defeat of rivals Maxentius and Licinius consolidated his power, and he established Byzantium, rechristened Constantinople, as his capital. Having witnessed the persecution of Christians under Diocletian, Constantine established a reign remarkably tolerant of cults and religions, and he did not attempt to eradicate paganism. He depicted himself on coins as both the new Alexander and new Moses, defeated numerous barbarian tribes such as the Goths and the Sarmatians and centralized Christian authority through his bishops, convening the first ecumenical council in 325, the Council of Nicaea. Stephenson's knowledgeable account pursues a wide variety of historical branches of Constantine's story.

Not necessarily for general readers, but the author provides valuable insight into Constantine's era.

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Starred review from March 1, 2010
In 323 C.E., Constantine reunited the Roman Empire under a single emperor after an unstable half century of 55 claimants to the throne culminating in the Tetrarchy of 293, of which Constantine's father was a junior member. Contemporary Christian propagandists co-opted and manipulated Constantine's story, particularly his conversion after he reputedly saw a vision that led to his great 313 C.E. victory at the Milvian Bridge. Historian Stephenson's careful look at the record demonstrates that in fact Constantine's conversion to Christianity was a gradual process. Constantine, who ended persecution of Christians and promoted toleration of all religions, probably became involved in Christian church counsels to resolve sectarianism that might annoy the new, powerful god who had done so much for his military career. Above all, Constantine was a magnificent military leader and a ruthless emperor who arranged the murder of his wife and son for reasons that are now lost to history. VERDICT Everyone interested in the classical period should read this exemplary biography, which eschews psychological speculation and instead builds its case inventively from primary accounts and the iconographic record in statuary, architecture, and coinage.Stewart Desmond, New York

Copyright 2010 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2010
Assessing the Roman emperor who embraced Christianity, historian Stephenson casts a critical scholarly eye on much of contemporary propagandas attributions to Constantine. His vision of the cross before the 312 Battle of the Milvian Bridge, though a later construction of Constantines apologists, nevertheless inspires Stephenson with a plausible explanation of Christianitys appeal to Constantine and his troops. Elaborating a Roman theology of victory, Stephenson delves into pagan cults and rituals practiced in the Roman army, emphasizing the primacy paid to gods associated with winning battles. Rather detailed discussion of evidence in coins, inscriptions, and monuments carries the religious part of Stephensons narrative and supplements his scrutiny of written sources about Constantine and his actions to attain the imperial throne. Mindful that those flowed from civil wars with rival claimants, Stephenson tempers the insults heaped on those Constantine defeated and handles his adoption of a new, victorious god not as a single personal revelation but as an extended conversion process throughout the late Roman world. Constantine in his times is well illuminated by Stephensons able and discerning work.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)