... was ambitious, and set about reuniting the empire under his rule (i.e. bringing the separated Eastern and Western blocks of the empire back together). In 312, Constantine invaded Rome in order to take control of the Western Empire by defeating Maxentius, who had taken power in Italy and North Africa. Two other emperors had previously attempted to force Maxentius from power, but both had failed. Eusebius, a historian and Bishop of Caesarea, reported that Constantine saw a vision from God while he marched to Italy with his army. In this vision, a cross of light was set across the sun, with the words, "In this sign conquer" (Latin: in hoc signo vinces). The cross, or "Chi-Rho" ( ) symbol, was a monogram for Jesus Christ and was a sign of salvation. Subsequently, he prayed to the Christian God. Whether or not Constantine was actually converted to Christianity at this point, ...

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