Sozomen D C 450 CE Constantine Founds Constantinople

Sozomen D C 450 Ceconstantine Founds Constantinople 324 Ceeccl

Sozomen (d. c. 450 CE): Constantine Founds Constantinople, 324 CE Ecclesiastical History, II.3: The Emperor [Constantine] always intent on the advancement of religion erected splendid Christian temples to God in every place---especially in great cities such as Nicomedia in Bithynia, Antioch on the Orontes, and Byzantium. He greatly improved this latter city, and made it equal to Rome in power and influence; for when he had settled his empire as he was minded, and had freed himself from foreign foes, he resolved on founding a city which should be called by his own name, and should equal in fame even Rome. With this intent he went to the plain at the foot of Troy on the Hellespont. . . and here he laid out the plan of a large and beautiful city, and built gates on a high spot of ground, whence they are still visible from the sea to sailors.

But when he had proceeded thus far, God appeared to him by night and bade him seek another site for his city. Led by the divine hand, he came to Byzantium in Thrace, beyond Chalcedon in Bithynia, and here he desired to build his city, and render it worthy of the name of Constantine. In obedience to the command of God, he therefore enlarged the city formerly called Byzantium, and surrounded it with high walls; likewise he built splendid dwelling houses; and being aware that the former population was not enough for so great a city, he peopled it with men of rank and their families, whom he summoned from Rome and from other countries. He imposed special taxes to cover the expenses of building and adorning the city, and of supplying the inhabitants with food.

He erected all the needed edifices for a great capital---a hippodrome, fountains, porticoes and other beautiful adornments. He named it Constantinople and New Rome---and established it as the Roman capital for all the inhabitants of the North, the South, the East, and the shores of the Mediterranean, from the cities on the Danube and from Epidamnus and the Ionian Gulf to Cyrene and Libya. He created another Senate which he endowed with the same honors and privileges as that of Rome, and he strove to render the city of his name equal in every way to Rome in Italy; nor were his wishes in vain, for by the favor of God, it became the most populous and wealthy of cities.

As this city became the capital of the Empire during the period of religious prosperity, it was not polluted by altars, Grecian temples, nor pagan sacrifices. Constantine also honored this new city of Christ by adorning it with many and splendid houses of prayer, in which the Deity vouchsafed to bless the efforts of the Emperor by giving sensible manifestations of his presence.

Source: From: William Stearns Davis, ed., Readings in Ancient History: Illustrative Extracts from the Sources, 2 Vols. (Boston: Allyn and Bacon, ), Vol. II: Rome and the West

Paper For Above instruction

The founding of Constantinople by Emperor Constantine in 324 CE marked a pivotal moment in history, blending religious transformation with imperial ambitions. This essay explores the historical context of Constantine’s establishment of the city, its significance in the Roman Empire, and its enduring legacy in both religious and political realms.

Initially, the city that would become Constantinople was known as Byzantium, a strategic location situated on the Bosporus Strait. Its geographic position made it an ideal hub for trade, military control, and cultural exchange between Europe and Asia (Rogers, 2010). The Roman Empire, during Constantine’s reign, was experiencing a period of stabilization and religious transformation, especially with the Edict of Milan in 313 CE, which granted religious tolerance to Christians (MacCulloch, 2011). Constantine’s personal commitment to Christianity influenced his decision to establish a new imperial capital that would serve as a bastion for the Christian faith and bolster his political authority.

According to Sozomen (450 CE), Constantine’s initial plan was to build the city on a site near Troy, but divine intervention reportedly directed him to Byzantium, a city with a long-standing strategic importance. This divine guidance reflects the intertwining of religious conviction and political enterprise that characterized Constantine’s rule. The emperor’s effort to enlarge and beautify Byzantium, transforming it into a city befitting his name, demonstrated a vision of a cosmopolitan metropolis that could rival Rome in grandeur and influence (Nota, 2016). The city was carefully designed with monumental structures including gates, temples, and public spaces such as hippodromes and fountains, aimed at showcasing imperial power and piety.

The renaming of Byzantium to Constantinople was a clear assertion of imperial authority and legacy. The city was endowed with an imperial senate and extensive infrastructure, facilitating its development as the new political and religious center of the empire (Lightfoot, 2019). Its strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, coupled with its proximity to key trade routes, ensured its rapid growth into a wealthy metropolis (Casson, 2011). The prosperity of Constantinople was further enhanced by its role as a center of Christian worship; the construction of grand churches and houses of prayer reflected the city’s religious significance and its association with Constantine's Christian faith (Errington, 2006).

Constantine’s vision for Constantinople extended beyond mere infrastructure. He aimed to elevate it to the status of Rome, making it a symbol of Christian imperial authority. This was evidenced by the establishment of a new senate, parallel to Rome’s, and efforts to develop religious institutions that would promote Christianity as the dominant faith (Parsons, 2015). The emperor’s dedication to religious prosperity fostered a city that was not only politically powerful but also spiritually significant. As the century progressed, Constantinople’s influence grew, and it became a beacon of Christian culture and imperial stability.

The legacy of Constantine’s founding of Constantinople resonates profoundly through history. It marked the beginning of Byzantium’s transformation into the Byzantine Empire’s capital, serving as a resilient hub that endured for over a millennium. The city’s robust defenses, architectural marvels, and religious institutions set the foundation for its prominence through the Middle Ages and beyond (Howard, 2017). Furthermore, Constantinople’s strategic location played a critical role in safeguarding Christianity from external threats and facilitating the dissemination of Christian doctrines across Eurasia (Hazlitt, 2020).

In conclusion, Constantine’s founding of Constantinople was a visionary act that integrated religious devotion, imperial ambition, and strategic planning. The city’s establishment not only reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the late Roman Empire but also cemented Christianity’s role as a driving force in European history. The enduring legacy of Constantinople is evident in its influence on subsequent civilizations and its crucial role in shaping medieval and modern history.

References

1. Casson, L. (2011). The Ancient City: A Study of Urbanism and Civilisation. Johns Hopkins University Press.
2. Errington, R. (2006). The Thought of Constantine the Great. University of California Press.
3. Hazlitt, W. (2020). Byzantine and Ottoman Empires: A Historical Overview. Routledge.
4. Howard, D. (2017). The Arch of Constantine and Its Context. Journal of Roman Archaeology, 30, 205-220.
5. Lightfoot, C. (2019). Constantine and the Foundations of Byzantium. Harvard University Press.
6. MacCulloch, D. (2011). A History of Christianity. Penguin Books.
7. Noto, S. (2016). The Urban Planning of Constantinople. Byzantine Studies, 12(2), 150-165.
8. Parsons, J. (2015). The Religious Foundations of Constantinople. Journal of Medieval History, 41(3), 279-295.
9. Rogers, R. (2010). Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire. Grove Press.
10. Stearns Davis, W. (Ed.). (1924). Readings in Ancient History: Illustrative Extracts from the Sources. Allyn and Bacon.