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| That after the Abdication of Diocletian and Maximian, Constantius became Chief Augustus, and was blessed with a Numerous Offspring.
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Chapter XVIII.—That after the
Abdication of Diocletian and Maximian, Constantius became Chief
Augustus, and was blessed with a Numerous Offspring.
The immediate consequence of this conduct was a recompense from the
hand of God, insomuch that he came into the supreme authority of the
empire. For the older emperors, for some unknown reason, resigned their
power; and this sudden change took place in the first year after their
persecution of the churches.3086
| 3086 The persecution was in 303 or 304. Compare discussion of date in
Clinton, Fasti Rom. ann. 303–305. The abdication was in
305. |
From that time Constantius alone
received the honors of chief Augustus, having been previously, indeed,
distinguished by the diadem of the imperial Cæsars,3087
| 3087 Eusebius uses the terms Augustus, king, autocrat, and Cæsar
with a good deal of interchangeableness. It is hard to tell sometimes
whether king (βασιλεύς) means emperor or Cæsar. In general, Augustus has been
transferred in translations, and king and autocrat both rendered
emperor, which seems to be his real usage. | among whom he held the first rank; but
after his worth had been proved in this capacity, he was invested with
the highest dignity of the Roman empire, being named chief Augustus of
the four who were afterwards elected to that honor. Moreover, he
surpassed most of the emperors in regard to the number of his family,
having gathered around him a very large circle of children both male
and female. And, lastly, when he had attained to a happy old age, and
was about to pay the common debt of nature, and exchange this life for
another, God once more manifested His power in a special manner on his
behalf, by providing that his eldest son Constantine should be present
during his last moments, and ready to receive the imperial power from
his hands.3088
| 3088 Constantine reached him just before his death, though possibly
some weeks before. Compare Prolegomena. | E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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