The Battle of the Milvian Bridge, AD 312
On 28 October AD 312, Constantine defeated Maxentius outside Rome near the Milvian Bridge over the Tiber.
0:45 · Episode film
AI-generated historical dramatization.
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Why Constantine defeated Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge on 28 October 312, how the river mattered, and what the victory changed for Christianity.
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North of Rome, 28 October AD 312. Constantine's army confronts Maxentius near the Tiber. Defeat drives Maxentius's soldiers toward the river crossings, where their retreat collapses into disaster. Maxentius drowns, and Constantine gains Rome and Italy. The victory strengthens his position in the empire's continuing struggle for power. It also brings a ruler increasingly committed to Christian patronage into the heart of Roman government. The following year, Constantine and Licinius agree on religious freedom and the restoration of Christian property. Political victory has opened a new chapter in the relationship between emperor and church.
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