AH: The World without Constantine

What would have happened if Constantine I had died soon after his father (perhaps by assassination or disease) and thus never fought Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge, and so that neither the Edict of Milan or the Council of Nicaea would ever occur?
 
Well, I do not believe that single persons can make huge difference in History. Changes derive from the general social needs and majority beliefs, although single persons in the correct position can accelerate things and provide some touch of their own in the developments.

Now, concerning Constantine, I think his contribution towards the legalization and final prevailance of Christianity was crucial, but overestimated due to later Christian accounts of his deeds. I guess his emmerge was the outcome of some party or clique within the Roman "court", and that's why he managed to change so many things in so little time.

So, if Constantine died early, I guess that this party should find someone else to fill his shoes, and although the process of the legalization and prevailance of the Christian Church would be delayed, the final outcome wouldn't be that different.

On the other hand, it is not definite that something identical to the Counsil of Nicea would happen. Even if Christianity would prevail as the major religion in the empire, I 'm not sure that, without Constantine, the Emperor would still become the head of the church and God's regent on Earth...
 
it appears to be so due to the image of the Imperial Rome ruled by just this or that emperor. Usually the prevailance of one emperor meant the victory of some political faction or clique.

So, although I haven't studied Roman History of the time, I gues that the prevailance of Christianity was more a matter of support by a political faction or clicue than the personal patronage of Constantine. I might be mistaken, though!
 
Christanity had been at war with itself for sometime and to my knowledge it was Constantine that made them make some peace and open the doorway for them to gain political track. Though while supportive of Christanity for political means it was only his successors that fully patronaged Christanity as Constantine did contribute in several areas to the Cult of Sol Invictus.
 
So basically, Christianity would be far less united and expansive as a result, and may stay a minor religion like Judaism. I would like to see an ATL really badly of paganism surviving in the Empire, as well as a prolonged rule of that tyrant Maxentius, possibly allowing the Germanic peoples an earlier successful invasion...
 
So basically, Christianity would be far less united and expansive as a result, and may stay a minor religion like Judaism. I would like to see an ATL really badly of paganism surviving in the Empire, as well as a prolonged rule of that tyrant Maxentius, possibly allowing the Germanic peoples an earlier successful invasion...

Those in the Western regions would think it one of the many wierd eastern, oriental cults.
 
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