Includes bibliographical references and index.

Imperial resurrection. The crisis of AD 260 ; The renewal of the Roman Empire -- Diocletian. The new emperor ; Emperors and subjects ; A new look ; Persia and the Caesars -- Constantine and Diocletian. The court of Diocletian ; Imperial edicts and moral crusades ; Minervina ; The succession -- Fathers and sons. The new regime ; Maxentius and Fausta ; The end of Maximian -- The road to Rome. The gathering storm ; The battle of the Milvian Bridge ; Freedom of worship ; The conversion of Constantine -- War and peace. Reworking past and future ; Governing the empire ; Maximus and Bassus ; The Donatist controversy -- Triumph and tragedy. The defeat of Licinius ; The eastern empire ; Constantine speaks to the bishops ; The Arian controversy ; Nicaea ; Constantinople and Rome -- Ruler of the world. Constantine's government ; Constantinople ; An ordered society ; Christians, pagans, and Jews ; Neighbors ; End times -- Appendix. Finding Constantine.