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  1. Seuso Research Project
  2. Reign of Emperor Constantine I (the Great)
306–337

Reign of Emperor Constantine I (the Great)

Constantine I (306-337) initially reigned as a co-emperor within the tetrarchy, then in 312 he defeated his main opponent Maxentius and became the single ruler of the western part of the empire. At the same time Licinius ruled the eastern part of the empire. In 313, having agreed with each other, they proclaimed the toleration of Christianity (Edict of Milan). In 324 he had Licinius executed and as a sole ruler he founded the first Christian dynasty of the Roman Empire, the Constantine dynasty. Convening of the first universal synod of Christianity in Nicaea (today Iznik, Turkey) in 325 is connected to him. It was there where tenets were first postulated as dogmas as well as the first schism in the church took place. It happened because the followers of presbyter Arius, the so-called Arians, thought the persons of God and Christ were not of the same essence but only similar. During the reign of Constantine short wars broke out against the Goths, who were making incursions into the Great Plain (332), and the Sarmatians, who were under the pressure of the Goths (322), in the vicinity of Pannonia.

Banquet scene on the mosaic Little Hunt in the Villa del Casale (Photo: Serena Raffiotta)
Roman Empire

Mosaics of the Villa del Casale, Piazza Armerina

Triumphal arch of Constantine in Rome (Photo: © Alamy Stock Photo)
Roman Empire

The triumphal arch of Constantine

Marble head of Constantine’s monumental statue (Photo: © Wikipedia)
Roman Empire

The Colossus of Constantine I

Head of Constantine’s colossal bronze statue (Photo: Zsolt Mráv)
Roman Empire

Colossal bronze statue of Constantine I

  • Reign of Emperor Augustus

    Ara Pacis Augustae (Altar of Augustan Peace)
    Statue of Augustus from Prima Porta
  • “Corinthian bronze”jug and bowl with handle, Egyed

  • Roman wall paintings

  • The Conquest of Pannonia

  • Colosseum

  • Reign of Emperor Trajan

    Trajan’s Column
  • Reign of Emperor Hadrian

    Pantheon
  • Reign of Marcus Aurelius

    Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius
    Bronze portrait of Marcus Aurelius, Lugio
  • The Severan dynasty: the golden age of Pannonia

    Wall paintings from Brigetio
    Hercules mosaic, Aquincum
    Cult relief of Mithras, Sárkeszi
  • Ivory statue of Autumn (Autumnus), Savaria

  • The age of the soldier emperors

    Statue of Nemesis from the governor’s palace, Aquincum
  • Silver augur staff, Brigetio

  • Reign of Diocletian: the age of the First Tetrarchy

    Statue of the tetrarchs of Venice
    The Gold Coffin by Ferenc Móra
  • Reign of Emperor Constantine I (the Great)

    Mosaics of the Villa del Casale, Piazza Armerina
    The triumphal arch of Constantine
    The Colossus of Constantine I
    Colossal bronze statue of Constantine I
  • Foundation of Constantinople

  • Reign of Emperor Constantius II.

    Heidentor, Carnuntum
    The Kaiseraugst treasure
  • Helmet of March 15 Square, Budapest Castellum contra Teutanum

  • Imperial fibula with onyx, Szilágysomlyó

  • Reign of Emperor Julian

  • Reign of Emperor Valentinian I

  • Battle of Hadrianopolis

  • Barbarian incursions into Pannonia

    The Kőszárhegy quadripus
  • I. (The Great) Theodosius and his co-emperors

    Obelisk of Theodosius
    Gilded bronze bust of Valentinian II, Sopianae (?)
  • Fragment of glass vessel with gold foil decoration, Intercisa

  • Painted Early Christian burial chambers, Sopianae

  • Ivory diptychs

  • Sack of Rome

  • Giving up the territory of Pannonia

    Late Roman luxury villa, Nagyharsány
    The Beremend bronze plaque
  • Dethronement of Romulus Augustulus

  • Mosaics of Ravenna

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