es were, however, powerless against the veterans of
Constantine, whom he led in person. The decisive battle was fought at
Chrysopolis, and Licinius retired to Nicomedia, but soon after abdicated,
and was banished to Thessalonica. There he was not long permitted to
remain, being executed by order of Constantine, one of the foul blots on
his memory and character.

(M1138) The empire was now reunited under a single man, at the cost of
vast treasures and lives. The policy of Diocletian had only inaugurated
civil war. There is no empire so vast which can not be more easily
governed by one man than by two or four. It may be well for empires to be
subdivided, like that of Charlemagne, but it is impossible to prevent
civil wars when the power is shared equally by jealous rivals. It was
better for the Roman world to be united under Octavius, than divided
between him and Antony.

(M1139) On the fall of Byzantium, Constantine was so struck with its
natural advantages, that he resolved to make it the capital of the empire.
Placed on the inner of two straits which connect the Euxine and the AEgean
with the Mediterranean, on the frontiers of both Europe and Asia, it
seemed to be the true centre of political power, while its position could
be itself rendered impregnable against any external enemy that threatened
the Roman world. The wisdom of the choice of Constantine, and his
unrivaled sagacity, were proved by the fact, that while Rome was
successively taken and sacked by Goths and Vandals, Constantinople
remained the capital of the eastern Roman empire for eleven continuous
centuries.

(M1140) The reign of Constantine as sole emperor was marked by another
event, A.D. 325. which had a great influence on the subsequent condition
of the world in a moral and religious point of view, and this was the
famous Council of Nicaea, which assembled to settle points of faith and
discipline in the new religion which was now established throughout the
empire. It is called the first Ecumenical, or General Council, and was
attended by three hundred and eighteen bishops, with double the number of
presbyters, assembled from all parts of the Christian world. Here the
church and the empire met face to face. In this council the emperor left
the cares of State, and the command of armies, to preside over discussions
on the doctrine of the Trinity, as expounded by two great rival
parties,--one headed by Athanasius, then archdeacon, afterward archbishop
o