324 AD.
Rome had grown old. Its streets were filthy, its walls cracked, and the Senate had become a hotbed of intrigue. Most importantly, Rome was no longer secure. Barbarians could attack at any time.
Emperor Constantine the Great made a decision. He pointed his finger at the map and said: "Old Rome is dead. I want a 'New Rome' (Nova Roma)."
He looked not to the West, but to the East. There was a small Greek settlement called
Byzantium.
This place was strategically one of the best in the world. * It was at the junction of Europe and Asia. * It was surrounded on three sides by deep sea, which acted as a natural moat. * It had a safe harbor—the Golden Horn.
Constantine drew the city's boundaries on the ground with the tip of his sword. When his advisors asked, "Your Majesty, why are you building such huge walls? This city isn't that big." Constantine pointed to the sky and said: "I will continue until He (God) tells me to stop who is walking ahead of me."
Work continued day and night for six years.
Statues, pillars, and artifacts were stolen from across the empire and brought to this new city. Athens, Alexandria, Rome—all were plundered to adorn this new capital.
May 11, 330 AD.
The city was inaugurated. It was named Constantinople (Constantine's City).
This city was even more beautiful than Rome. It had a huge hippodrome that could seat 100,000 people. It had wide streets and gold-domed churches.
But behind this glamour, darkness lurked within Constantine's own home.
Power spared no one, no matter how "Great."
Constantine had a son, Crispus, from his first wife. Crispus was a brilliant commander, loved by the people and considered the next emperor.
But Constantine's second wife, Fausta, wanted to make her own sons kings.
Fausta poisoned Constantine's ears. She lied that Crispus had cast an evil eye on her (her stepmother).
Constantine was blinded by rage. He poisoned his own son, his most promising heir, Crispus, to death.
But a few days later, Constantine's mother, Helena, told him the truth: Fausta had lied.
Now Constantine's anger erupted against his wife. He had Fausta locked in a scalding bath. The water temperature was raised so high that she died of suffocation and burns.
Constantine had built a great city, but he had founded it on the corpses of his family.
In 337 AD, just before his death, Constantine was baptized and officially became the first Christian emperor. He made Christianity the main religion of the empire.
But as soon as he closed his eyes, a storm arose.
His nephew's name was Julian.
Julian had witnessed how his Christian uncle (Constantine) had his entire family killed. Julian's heart was filled with hatred for Jesus Christ. He secretly worshipped the old Greek gods (Zeus and Apollo).
He was just waiting for an opportunity. An opportunity to uproot Christianity and bring back the old gods.
History was about to give him a name—'Julian the Apostate'.
Read more : - Crisis of the Third Century: How Emperors Like Aurelian and Constantine Shaped Rome
.jpeg)
0 Comments