# Battle of the Milvian Bridge (312)

URL: https://christianity-history.com/timeline/312-battle-of-the-milvian-bridge
Location: Rome
Themes: War

Constantine defeats Maxentius after reportedly seeing a sign of the cross, becoming master of the West and patron of the church. At this point in the timeline (28 October 312), the Bishop of Rome was Pope Miltiades (Melchiades) (2 July 311 – 10 January 314).

## Why it matters
Battle of the Milvian Bridge mattered because it shows how warfare and conquest affected Christian communities and the relations between faiths.

Pope at the time: [Pope Miltiades (Melchiades)](https://christianity-history.com/popes/pope-miltiades-melchiades)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Battle of the Milvian Bridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Milvian_Bridge)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Battle of the Milvian Bridge](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Battle+of+the+Milvian+Bridge)
- [Wikipedia — Age Of Councils (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_seven_ecumenical_councils)