Reign of Constantine I

Constantine emerged from the civil wars of the Tetrarchy and defeated Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge in 312. He later overcame Licinius and became sole emperor, reorganising government, military command and the relationship between the imperial court and regional centres of power.

His reign ended official persecution of Christians and granted the church increasing legal and material support. Constantine intervened in Christian disputes, summoned the Council of Nicaea and founded Constantinople, while traditional religious practice remained present across the empire.

This context supports Paul Doherty’s Claudia mysteries and other fiction about Helena, Constantine’s court, Christian communities, imperial agents and the political consequences of religious change in the early fourth century.