
audiobook
by John B. (John Benjamin) Firth
CONSTANTINE THE GREAT
PREFACE
ILLUSTRATIONS
CHAPTER I THE EMPIRE UNDER DIOCLETIAN
CHAPTER II THE PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH
CHAPTER III THE ABDICATION OF DIOCLETIAN AND THE SUCCESSION OF CONSTANTINE
CHAPTER IV CONSTANTINE AND HIS COLLEAGUES
CHAPTER V THE INVASION OF ITALY
CHAPTER VI THE VISION OF THE CROSS AND THE EDICT OF MILAN
CHAPTER VII THE DOWNFALL OF LICINIUS
This study follows the rise of the Roman emperor who reshaped an empire on the brink of division. It charts his early military triumphs, his bold decision to adopt a new faith, and the practical steps he took to reorganize the sprawling state—new capitals, administrative reforms, and a re‑engineered army. The narrative stays grounded in contemporary sources, letting the facts speak for themselves while showing how a single ruler could alter the course of history.
Beyond the battlefield, the book turns to the religious upheavals that followed his conversion. It explains the Arian controversy, the gathering at Nicaea, and the ways the church began to claim a public role under imperial patronage. By presenting the events without taking sides, the author invites listeners to weigh the lasting impact of those early decisions on both empire and faith, offering a clear picture of a pivotal moment in the ancient world.
Language
en
Duration
~10 hours (576K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United States: G. P. Putnam's sons, 1904.
Credits
KD Weeks, Turgut Dincer and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
Aug 6, 2022
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1868–1943
Best known as a British journalist and biographer, he wrote lively historical works on figures such as Constantine and Augustus, along with books shaped by his interest in English places and public life. His writing blends solid research with an easy, readable style that still feels approachable today.
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