Troubles in the Third Century-after Constantine

Question 1

political Legitimacy : Barracks Emperors (235 – 284 AD)

Answer 1

o Emperors from the army
o No connection to anybody
o No way to name an heir
o No one knew who the emperor was
o Lots of war
o Debasement of currency

Question 2

Diocletian

Answer 2

● Inherited a messy empires

● Creates political system called the Tertracty which is the idea that there would be 4 leaders who ruled the empire

Question 3

Tetrarchy

Answer 3

means rule of 4
The 2 Head emperors would be known as “Augustus” The 2 junior emperors known as “Caesars” The “Caesars” become “Augustus” when the former Augustus retires, and choose 2 new
Caesars

Question 4

Constantius Clorus

Answer 4

partner of Diocleatian
had a son, Constantine
Caesar in Gaul.

Question 5

what was the political drama around Constantine and Maxentius

Answer 5

Constantine and Maxentius expected to be chosen as Caesar, but other people were chosen which caused fear in the two so they fled.

Question 6

where did Constantine go when he fled, why, and what happened.

Answer 6

Constantine goes to Gaul, goes with Constantius Clorus to Britain,
Constantius Clorus dies and the Soldiers names Constantine Augustus.
from there Constantine marches on Rome to become the sole Emperor

Question 7

where did Constantine move the capital of Byzantium/what does he call it?

Answer 7

Constantinople

Question 8

Battle of Milvian Bridge 312 AD

Answer 8

Constantine Battles Maxentius for total power
Night before battle, Constantine has a dream of an image in the sky (The CHI-RHO) with
a banner underneath reading “By this sign you will conquer” Constantine asks Christian soldiers “what is means” Constantine wins this battle, and becomes champion of the Christian faith

Question 9

313, Edict of Milan

Answer 9

ended the persecution of Christianity, and made it legal to practice Christianity.

Question 10

Council of Nicaea 325

Answer 10

● Constantine calls the Council of Nicaea 325 because Tensions begin to grow amongst Christians over disagreements about “Who is God”
“Who is Jesus” “What scripture is important”
the counsel was an Eccumenical council
Trinitary theology with an emphasis on Christology was what was being debated.
○Nicaean Creed comes out of this: Jesus is homousius, of the same substance as God.

Question 11

○ Arias,

Answer 11

bishop who developed theology that Jesus was not the begotten son of God, but a created being who was then Deified Multiple people protested this

Question 12

who were The sons of Constantine

Answer 12

○ Constantine II
○ Constans
○ Constantius II
They killed Constantine’s nephews

Question 13

Constantius II -

Answer 13

Arian Believer
Has a lot of councils and make creeds These get overturned.
Arian Resurgence

Question 14

○ Athanasius of Alexandria -

Answer 14

He pushes back against the new term “Homoiousias”
saying that Jesus is the same as God.
“I will not budge one iota”