"Renovatio Imperii", political stabilization, and the spirit of Christian renewal in Roman institutional structures during the reign of Constantine the Great
Km. Girardet, "Renovatio Imperii", political stabilization, and the spirit of Christian renewal in Roman institutional structures during the reign of Constantine the Great, Z ANTIKES C, 4(1), 2000, pp. 102-115
Citations number
91
Categorie Soggetti
Religion & Tehology
Journal title
ZEITSCHRIFT FUR ANTIKES CHRISTENTUM-JOURNAL OF ANCIENT CHRISTIANITY
The first to have developed the concept of a "renovatio imperii" in a Chris
tian sense is Constantine the Great. A change of political or institutional
structures of the Roman empire was not intended thereby. The term "renovat
io imperii" rather signifies the aim of a complete Christianization of the
Roman world. By the people's spiritual renewal and the empire's unity in a
common worship of the Christian god Constantine hoped to achieve a politica
l stabilization in order to reduce the empire's proneness to crisis, and in
justice in political life. The practical methods of the emperor's religious
policy show that he has pursued this aim with great effort and political i
ntuition at the same time.