Constantine's Triumph: Rome's Hero or Tiber's Toppled Tyrant?

Constantine's Triumph: Rome's Hero or Tiber's Toppled Tyrant?

In an era where the phrase 'et tu, Brute' is almost as common as 'ave, Caesar', one man has managed to elude the proverbial dagger in the back - Emperor Constantine, Rome's newest golden boy. But is he our saviour, or just another power-hungry politician?

Yesterday, Constantine celebrated his latest victory by parading through the streets of Rome, atop a chariot more extravagant than Bacchus' wine cellar. His radiant smile wider than the Nile, his chest puffed up bigger than one of those Gaulish tribesmen after a good feast. A spectacle for the masses, no doubt. But what was he really celebrating? The end of the Tetrarchy? Or the beginning of his own tyrannical reign?

You see, it's not that I don't appreciate Constantine's victory over Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge. I do. It was a good day for Rome, and an even better day for those of us who had bets on Constantine. But let's not forget the man he defeated was also a Roman. We seem to be so busy fighting amongst ourselves that we've forgotten the real enemy - those barbarians at the gates.

Now, some of you might argue that Constantine's new Christian faith sets him apart from previous Emperors. He's not just some hedonistic philanderer, you might say. He's a man of faith, a man of the people. And by the people, you mean the Christians, right?

I've got nothing against Christians. Some of my best friends are Christians. But let's be honest, they're not exactly the majority in Rome. Yet, here we have Constantine, converting to Christianity as if it's the latest fashion trend. As if we're all supposed to follow suit like a bunch of lemmings charging off a cliff.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm all for personal belief. I've got my own shrine to Jupiter at home. But when our Emperor starts favouring one religion over others, that's when I start to worry. It's one thing to tolerate Christianity; it's another thing to endorse it.

I can't help but wonder, where does this leave us, the average Roman? Are we supposed to abandon our gods, our traditions, our values, all because our Emperor found a new toy to play with? And what about those of us who don't want to convert? Are we to be thrown to the lions like some sort of Christian martyr?

But hey, who am I to judge? Maybe Constantine is the hero Rome needs. Maybe he's the one who can finally bring stability to the Empire. Or maybe he's just another tyrant waiting to tighten his grip on power.

All I know is that Rome deserves better than this.