anquished in the
year 314, he was quiet for about nine years. But in the year 324 this
restless man again attacked Constantine, being urged on both by his own
inclination and by the instigation of the pagan priests. That he might
secure himself a victory, he attached the pagans to his cause by
severely oppressing the Christians, and putting not a few of their
bishops to death. But all his plans failed; for, after several
unsuccessful battles, he was obliged to throw himself upon the mercy of
the victor, who, nevertheless, ordered him to be strangled, in the year
325. After his victory over Licinius, Constantine reigned sole emperor
till his death; and by his plans, his enactments, his regulations, and
his munificence he endeavored as much as possible to obliterate
gradually the ancient superstitions and to establish Christian worship
throughout the Roman Empire. He had undoubtedly learned from the wars
and the machinations of Licinius that neither himself nor the Roman
Empire could remain secure while the ancient superstition continued
prevalent; and therefore, from this time onward, he openly opposed the
pagan deities and their worship, as being prejudicial to the interests
of the State.

After the death of Constantine, which happened in the year 337, his
three surviving sons, Constantine II, Constantius, and Constans, assumed
the empire, and were all proclaimed emperors by the Roman senate. There
were still living two brothers of Constantine the Great, namely,
Constantius Dalmatius and Julius Constans, and they had several sons.
But nearly all of these were slain by the soldiers at the command of
Constantine's sons, who feared lest their thirst for power might lead
them to make insurrections and disturb the Commonwealth. Only Gallus and
Julian, sons of Julius Constans, escaped the massacre; and the latter of
these afterward became emperor. Constantine II held Britain, Gaul, and
Spain, but lost his life, A.D. 340, in a war with his brother Constans,
who at first governed only Illyricum, Italy, and Africa; but after the
fall of his brother, Constantine II, he annexed his provinces to his
empire, and thus became emperor of all the West, until he lost his life,
A.D. 350, in the war with Maxentius, a usurper. After the death of
Constans, Maxentius being subdued, the third brother, Constantius, who
had before governed Asia, Syria, and Egypt, in the year 353 became sole
emperor, and governed the whole empire till the year 36