Medieval times Part 1

It was October 29, 312 AD when 40-year old general Constantine claimed leadership of the Western Roman Empire. His army bore crosses on their shields as they marched into Rome. The previous Emperor, Maxentius, was defeated at the Battle of Milvian Ridge, and drowned in a river bed by his own heavy armor. After killing Maxentius’ “nearest“ friends, Constantine disbanded the Praetorian Guard. Although he then was Emperor of the Western Empire he still had to fight the leaders of Central and Eastern Rome ( Licinius and Maxminus Daia ). Constantine didn’t want to fight two wars at the same time so he made a compromise with Licinius, who was closer to Constantine and his strength was weaker. They would remain at peace if Licinius, then 60, would marry Constantine’s half-sister Constantia. Licinius then attacked Daia’s larger army with his smaller army. His army rallied under the Cross and routed Daia and surrounded him within the city of Tarsus. Daia took poison but he had a large “ last meal“ and it took four days for the poison to be fatal, and he suffered painful cramps and blinded himself by banging his eyes out of the sockets. After he exiled and later killed Lincius, Constantine united Rome under the Cross which, having no true homeland, could be easily taken on as a religion by almost anybody.