Unification by Domination

In around 275 AD the young wife of a Roman Officer gave birth to a son she named Constantine. The Roman Officer had the disctinction of being in the right place at the right time, and became Emperor of Rome. His child's name was Constantine. At this time Rome had a large Christian population who suffered heavy persecution.

When the Emperor of Rome died in 305, there was the typical squabble for the throne that was common in those times. Constantine held his own lands, but shrewdly sat out the initial fight. When he did engage, he won decisive battles and made short term alliances which benefitted his expansion. By 323 Constantine had control of the entire Roman Empire.

Constantine in his early life was a Pagan and sun worshipper. While fighting in the succession wars he learned of Christianity, converted, and later adopted it as the official religion of the Roman Empire. In military matters, he was his fathers son. However, his mother's influence and compassion also left their imprint on him.

Constantine had an outward appearance of complete tolerance. There was no overt persecution of people of other faiths. Coins kept pictures of the Roman Gods. Constantine respected liberty, but he supported Christianity. He built temples, sought advice from bishops, and had the ruthlessness that many Christian leaders have, even when they espouse New Testament ideals, but govern from an Old Testament mentality. He put to death his eldest son and his second wife.

The way of Constantine was unification by domination. Looking at the world today, it's ironic how much has changed and yet stayed the same.