Medieval History - SG 1 Flashcards
Who was Constantine?
passed Edict of Milan that legalized Christianity, Western emperor of Rome, allied with Licinius, conquered Maximinus because opposed Christianity, and exile and later hung Licinius for persecuting Christian spies (excuse for war with him, way to united empire and become sole emperor)
How God uses even wicked men to accomplish his righteous plans, emperor’s right to rule
How did he come to power?
Battle of Milvian Bridge and Licinius, God’s providence, right to rule
What was the Edict of Milan?
the document that legalized Christianity, divisions of religion
Why did Constantine move the capitol of the Roman Empire?
planning to attack Persia
Was Constantine a Christian?
used Christianity as tool (to unite people and gain loyalty), legalized it, Council of Nicea (attempt to unite empire), end of life baptism (reassurance), killed wife and son, how God uses even wicked men to accomplish his righteous plans
When and how did Constantine die?
As he planned to attack Persia, he died of illness on May 22, 337.
What happened to the empire after his death?
divided up into 3 sections with his 3 sons as the 3 rulers: Constans, Constantine 2, Constantius
Who was Arius?
He was a heretic and monotheist, was considered anathema (enemy of the church), and was excommunicated, heterousios, ideas did not take root in church but much debate, division of religion, sinful ambitions, God uses wicked men
Who was Athanasius?
bishop of Alexandria, one of the few bishops who stayed firm to homoousios when surrounded by arians, “contra mundune” (“do you not know that you are against the world?” to which he famously replied: “it is the world against me.” canonized the Bible, division of religion
What is Arianism? Homoousios? Homoiousios? Heterousios?
Homoousios = Jesus is of similar essence to God.
Homoiousios= Jesus is of the same essence to God.
Heteroousios= Jesus is of different essence to God. (Arianism)
Council of Nicea declared homoousios as church doctrine but debate continued for years, division of religion
What was/happened at the Council of Nicea?
Jesus is of the same essence of God (homoiousios), C might’ve organized it to unite emperor, continued debate, division of religion
Who was Theodosius 1?
- Eastern emperor, going to secretly attack Persia but they ended up splitting Armenia in half
- debate with Ambrose (8 months repentance)
- co-emperors: Maximus and Valentinian 2
- Battle of Frigidus (east vs. west see below)
- claimed Honorius as emperor when V 2 dies and is replaced by Eugenius
What was the Edict of Thessalonica?
Christianity declared the state religion, trying to remove Roman religions - any means of worship is treason
God uses wicked men, providence, division of religion
Why did Ambrose of Milan rebuke Theodosius?
Theodosius starting riots in Thessalonica, killing revolters and bystanders, Ambrose excommunicates him from the church, eventually repents and is admitted back in
Right to rule, God uses wicked men
What does this rebuke and Theodosius’ reaction to it tell us about the authority of the Church at this time and Theodosius himself? What significant shift has happened to the Roman Empire?
the church was gaining precedence over the government (christian bishops over pagan rulers), rulers now listened to the church, T was involved too much in church
Right to rule, providence, wicked men
What happened to the Roman Empire after Theodosius’ death?
he was the last emperor of the united Rome, then Rome faded away
Who was St. Augustine? What was his book, City of God, about? What events caused him to begin writing City of God?
important patriarch and church, Nicene Christianity, converted by Ambrose, bishop of Hippo Regius. As the city of man rises and falls, the City of God is Eternal, so we should be like citizens of that city, meaning we should not do things that are clearly wrong yet under man’s authority. Just war theory. The sack of Rome and the Vandal invasion (dying during Vandal invasion), fading away of Rome
Wicked men, providence, rise of barbarians
Who is Ambrose? How was he influential in the early church?
bishop of Milan, converts and baptizes Augustine to Nicene Christianity, church father. continued precedent of Christian bishops exerting authority over pagan rules: Theodosius starting riots in Thessalonica, killing revolters and bystanders, Ambrose excommunicates him from the church, eventually repents and is admitted back in
Right to rule
What was happening with the Christian Church during the late 300’s-early 400’s?
church gaining authority (see Ambrose answer), division between east and west empire (Constantinople and Rome), election of 1st pope (see answer for Leo the Great), Ambrose and Augustine establish doctrines and orthodoxy (put down Donatists who believed that baptism could only be done by a believer - 1st puritan church)
Division of religion
In general, what was happening in the Roman empire, politically, during this same period?
- Vandals invade North Africa, Rome cannot afford to protect it or regain it because of broken state
- 400- Visigoths attack Milan, forcing Honorius to Ravenna
- 402- Stilicho defeats them
- 407- Britannia claims Constantine III emperor and takes Gaul and Hispania
- Visigoths attack Rome (1st: paid off; 2nd: laid siege to Rome until they got Illyricum but instead Alaric is made magnus militum to Attala in Rome)
- 3 emperors (division)
- 410- Alaric and Visigoths sack Rome
- rise of barbarians, providence, right to rule
How were the barbarian generals like Stilicho and Alaric useful to the emperors of this period?
- magnus militums - top military official; job = to protect young emperors but can never usurp power because of barbarian blood, no reason to assasinate
- right to rule, rise of barbarians
Why do emperors need to find a ‘right to rule’? How do they find this right? (22 and 23)
validation of authority to gain respect and trust from their people
- divinity- son of god, the god, chosen by god
- heredity- inherited position
- usurpation/warfare- conquer and raise nations
- marriage- example of Ataulf (trying to begin new Roman empire but failed) gave him claim to power
What is a magister militum?
top military official to the emperor
Right to rule
What is the obvious difference between the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths?
Visigoths = west in Gaul
Ostrogoths = east in Germany
Rise of barbarians
