1077 AUC (324)
Military Events:
The Civil war 1077 would mark the counclusion of the struggle between the rival Emperors Constantine and Licinius. Constantine and Licinius each sought to become sole Emperor of the Roman Empire, and because of this thier past friendship turned into a bitter rivalry. In 1073, the Emperors went to war, but neither gained a decisive advantage over the other. The Civil War of 1077, really began in 1073, when Licinius revoked the Edict of Milan, and began persecutinf Christians in his realm. Constantine, a Christian himself, took this as declaration of war. Constantine, however decided against a rash attack, and over the next four years, build up an army for an attack on Licinius. In June, Constantine crossed the Mirista River into Thrace and began the Civil War of 1077. Constantine's Army met Licinius' Army near Adrianople in early July. Constantine's forces, supposedly outnumbered, fought with such zeal, that Licinius was forced to withdraw from Adrianople, and he soon began a retreat towards Byzantion, where he could be ferried across the Bosporus to the relative safety of Asia Minor. As Licinius withdrew, Constantine persued him with great vigour, not allowing Licinius a moment to rest. Licinius soon reached the Borsporus, and ferried most of his forces across it into Asia. Licinius left a sizeable detachment in Byzantion, and had his navy commander, Abantus, use his fleet to blockade the Bosporus and the Hellespont so that Constantine wouldn't be able to cross. Constantine soon arrived at Byzantion, but was unable to sustain an effective siege. In order to cut of Byzantion completly, Crispus, Constantine's first son, led Constantine's fleet towards Byzantion. As Cripsus approached the Hellespont, Abantus' larger fleet arrived. However, Abantus' numbers worked against him, as he was not able to manuever all those ships in the narrow Dardenelles. Crispus achived Victory with his more manuverable fleet, sinking or capturing all but 4 of Abantus' ships. Upon hearing of this massive defeat, the defenders of Byzantion became demoralized and surrendered to Constantine. In Early September, Constantine landed in Chalcedon, and met Licinius' forces in the neighboring town of Chrysopolis. At Chrysopolis, Constantine's forces employed thier standards, which Licinius' forces belived had mystical powers, as a form of physcological warfare. Constantine then employed flanking tactics with his Calvary, combined with a frontal assault to breaks Licinius' demoralized lines. Only Licinius, some of his officers, and a handful of common soldiers escaped to Nicomedia with thier lives. Licinius believed he had no chance of defeating Constantine, and requested to live out his days as a private citizen in Thessolonica. Constantine was convinced by Licinius' wife Constantia, who was Constantine's half sister, to agree to Licinius' request. Constantine was now the undisputed ruler of the Empire.
Domestic Events:
Constantine after defeating Licinius, decided to unite his new holdings together, by relocating the Capitol of the Empire to a position closer to the strategic frontiers. Constantine chose to found his new city,
Nova Roma, on the site of Byzantion. Byzantion had easy acess to the Eastern and Danube frontiers, and was strategically placed at the intersecting of many trade routes.
Religion Events:
St. Peter's Church, built on the believed site of St.Peters tomb is founded in Rome. St. Peter was the first Bishop of Rome, and an early leader in the church.
Eustathius is made Patriarch of Antioch succeding Philogonus who died only a few days before Christmas.
A bust of Constantine, made after his victories.
1078 AUC (325)
Military Events:
Constantine and his son Crispus, launch a campaign across the Danube, to defend Moesia from the Goths, Vandals, and Samaratin's. Roman Crimea sufferes greatly from Gothic raids, but is too distant and isolated for the Emperor to do much to prevent the raids.
Domestic Events:
Constantine suspected Licinius of plotting against him, and orders Licinius and his son, Constantines Nephew, eradicated. Licinius was killed in his Villla on the outskirts of Thessolonica. Constantia, Licinius' wife, becomes enraged with he brother, and only finds some sympathy from Fausta, Constantine's wife.
Religious Events:
The Council of Nicea takes place, with several hundred bishops in attendence. During the council, a universal Rule of Faith is made, the Nicean Creed. The sect of Arianism, is declared heretical, and its leader Arius, is exiled from the Empire. Arian books were burned, and only Arian bishops that were on good standing with the Emperor were allowed to retain thier positions.
Construction begins on the Church of the Nativity
A Fresco depecting the Council of Nicea
1079 AUC (326)
Military Events:
Constantine reorganises the Roman army in smaller units classified into three types: palatini, (imperial escort armies); comitatenses, (forces based in frontier provinces) and limitanei (auxilia border troops). Constantine hopes that this reorganization can help defend the Empire's boundreis more efficeintly.
Constantine athourizes, a cohort of Limitanei to be sent to Crimea.
Domestic Events:
Fausta, Constantine's Wife, devises a plot to eliminate Crispus, so her sons could become Emperor in his place. Fausta claimed to Constantine that she had been sexually assaulted by Crispus, and Constantine originally bought it. At the time, they were at a small Istrian town named Pola, en route to Rome, and Crispus was sentenced to Prison thier. Constantine had given orders for Cripsus to be executed after he had spent a few weeks suffering in "Cold" Prison. While in Rome, Constantine's mother Helena, suspected Fausta had formulated this and convinced Constantine Crispus was innocent. Constantine sent his fastest messanger available to reach Pola, and tell the guards to call of the execution. Constantine's, messanger understood the urgency of his mission, and rode through the night, and only stopped to eat on a few occassions. The messanger arrived only hours before Crispus' schedualed execution, and informed him he had been released. Crispus then was reconciled with his father, who then had Fausta promptly executed. Constantine later declares Prostitution Illegal, and works to humanize prisons, after Crispus' dreadful experience with prisons.
Religious Events:
Late in the Year, Constantine's mother, Helena, discovers the True Cross. Work immediatly begins on a church at the site which the Cross was discovered. Christianity spread to the region of Georgia.
A Coin depecting Crispus