ABSTRACT
Constantine remained in northern Italy into the spring of 313 until he was sure that Licinius had gained ascendancy over Maximin in Thrace. While his ally pushed the persecutor back into Asia, overcame their foe, and liberated Christians in the east, Constantine moved up into Gaul, defeated Franks on the Rhine, and returned to Trier in triumph in the west. Although he believed that power from the great Deity of the Christians had aided him in winning victory over his enemies and in gaining supremacy in the empire, Constantine as yet knew little about the beliefs and practices of Christianity. Over the next few years, his study of Christian doctrines and his involvement in Church disputes would strengthen his knowledge of his new religion, and stir within him a sense of mission. When he returned to Rome for the celebration of the Decennalia of his accession, he became convinced that he was the divinely appointed agent of the omnipotent Christian Divinity, and began a building program which would transform the city from a pagan capital into the Apostolic See.1
