"In Hoc Signo Vinces"

This year is celebrating the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation in Trier of Constantine as Roman emperor. A huge multiple exhibit in connection with the celebration of Luxembourg and its surroundings as European Capital of Culture marks the anniversary. The exhibition has of course been underway for a long time and we must assume that the decision had nothing to do with the current debate about a European treaty and its self-imposed silence on Christianity as the European foundation. It is however a fact that not since the rule of Constantine has the European continent plus North Africa and present day Turkey been united under one ruler. Furthermore, Constantine knew most of the nooks and crannies of his vast empire.

The short story about Constantine
Constantine was born in Serbia, lived at the court of Diocletian, fought under Galerius at the Danube, joined his father in Britain in 306 and was proclaimed Caesar by the troops of his father. In 307 he was proclaimed Augustus at Trier, where he married the sister of a co-emperor, Maxentius. From Trier he went to Rome where he famously conquered his brother in law at the battle of the Milvian Bridge in October 312. In 330 he inaugurated the settlement Byzantium as the new capital of the Roman Empire. He died in nearby Nicomedia in 337.

The Chi Rho story
The Chi Rho story exists in a number of versions, but in general it is told in accordance with the Church historian Eusebius, who claimed that he had it from the horse's mouth.

According to Eusebius, when beseeching God, Constantine had a vision of a sign from heaven. A voice said that by this sign he should conquer or "In hoc signo vinces." The following night he dreamed that Christi came to him and told him to display the sign on his military standards and shields. Some stories claim that Constantine had the vision on the evening before the great battle, another myth places it right at Konstantinshöhe -  - at Neumagen-Dhron. Since then astronomers and geologists have repeatedly tried to find evidence of peculiar natural incidents like planets aligned or meteorites through the sky which could have triggered the vision.

The Edict of Milan and the Christianization of the Roman Empire
From Rome Constantine travelled North to Milan and together with his co-emperor Licinius published an act of toleration, the edict of Milan. During his reign he more and more actively changed the official Roman Cult to that of a more Christianised version, although he himself presented a slightly sanitized version of monotheism in connection with public parades etc. Although he or his mother actively took part in the erection of a number of significant cathedrals and in the seeking out of the relics in Jerusalem, he also gave room for the erection of pagan temples in his new capital. His Christian leanings have been extensively discussed in the biographical and scientific research since ancient times, as well as the exact time that he was baptised. The jury is still out! Whatever the facts, there is, however, no doubt that the public veneration of a bland deity was a way forward in a multi-religious reality of late ancient society, it was a worthy compromise in a very tricky historical situation.

Modern dreams
Whatever the truth of this matter is, there is no doubt that the anniversary might prompt some modern politicians to dream about a resurrection of the ancient Roman Empire of Constantine. As an example it may be mentioned that the catholic Bishop of Trier has published a magazine in connection with the exhibition highlighting the "parallels between the Roman Empire of Constantine and modern day Europe".