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In hoc signo vinces

January 12, 2023

"In hoc signo vinces" (Classical Latin: [ɪn hoːk ˈsɪŋnoː ˈwɪŋkeːs], Ecclesiastical Latin: [in ok ˈsiɲo ˈvintʃes]) is a Latin phrase conventionally translated into English as "In this sign thou shalt conquer".

Detail from a 9th-century Byzantine manuscript. Constantine defeats Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge; the vision of Constantine is a Greek cross with ἐν τούτῳ νίκα written on it.

Detail from The Vision of the Cross by assistants of Raphael, depicting the vision of the cross and the Greek writing "Ἐν τούτῳ νίκα" in the sky, before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.
"In hoc signo vinces" on a 1721 Portuguese coin from the reign of King João V.

The Latin phrase itself renders, rather loosely, the Greek phrase "ἐν τούτῳ νίκα", transliterated as "en toútōi níka" (Ancient Greek: [en túːtɔːi̯ níːkaː], Modern Greek: [en ˈtuto ˈnika]), literally meaning "in this, conquer".

History

Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius was an early Christian author (c. 240 – c. 320) who became an advisor to the first Christian Roman emperor, Constantine I (and tutor to his son), guiding the Emperor's religious policy as it developed during his reign.[1] His work De Mortibus Persecutorum has an apologetic character, but has been treated as a work of history by Christian writers. Here Lactantius preserves the story of Constantine's vision of the Chi Rho before his conversion to Christianity.[2] The full text is found in only one manuscript, which bears the title, Lucii Caecilii liber ad Donatum Confessorem de Mortibus Persecutorum.

The bishop Eusebius of Caesaria, a historian, states that Constantine was marching with his army (Eusebius does not specify the actual location of the event, but it is clearly not in the camp at Rome), when he looked up to the sun and saw a cross of light above it, and with it the Greek words "(ἐν) τούτῳ νίκα" ("In this, conquer"),[3] a phrase often rendered into Latin as in hoc signo vinces ("in this sign, you will conquer").[4]

At first, Constantine did not know the meaning of the apparition, but on the following night, he had a dream in which Christ explained to him that he should use the sign of the cross against his enemies. Eusebius then continues to describe the Labarum,[5] the military standard used by Constantine in his later wars against Licinius, showing the Chi-Rho sign. The accounts by Lactantius and Eusebius, though not entirely consistent, have been connected to the Battle of the Milvian Bridge (312 AD), having merged into a popular notion of Constantine seeing the Chi-Rho sign on the evening before the battle.

The phrase appears prominently placed as a motto on a ribbon unfurled with a passion cross to its left, beneath a window over the Scala Regia, adjacent to the equestrian statue of Emperor Constantine, in the Vatican.[6] Emperors and other monarchs, having paid respects to the Pope, descended the Scala Regia, and would observe the light shining down through the window, with the motto, reminiscent of Constantine's vision, and be reminded to follow the Cross.

The Kingdom of Portugal had used this motto since 1139, according with the legend in Lusíadas.

Cultural references

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius". Online Catholic Encyclopedia. New Advent.
  2. ^ Roberts, Alexander; Donaldson, James, eds. (1871). "The manner in which persecutors died. Chapter 44". The works of Lactantius. Volume II. Ante-Nicene Christian Library: Translations of the writings of the Fathers. Down to A.D. 325. Vol. XXII. Edinburgh. p. 203.
  3. ^ Eusebius. "1.28". Vita Constantini (PDF). www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu. p. 944.
  4. ^ Haaren, John H.; Poland, A. B. (2006) [1904]. Famous Men of Rome. Yesterday's Classics. p. 229. ISBN 978-159915-046-8.
  5. ^ Eusebius, Vita Constantini 1.31, p. 946.
  6. ^ Howard Hibbard (30 August 1990). Bernini. Penguin Books Limited. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-14-193542-3.
  7. ^ Chadwick, Owen. 1981. The Popes and European Revolution. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-826919-6. p. 474.
  8. ^ Helene P. Kokkone; Katerina Korre-Zographou; Chrysa Daskalopoulou (1997). Ελληνικές Σημαίες, Σήματα, Εμβλήματα (in Greek). Athens: G. Tsiberiotes. ISBN 960-7795-01-6.
  9. ^ "PALL MALL IN HOC SIGNO VINCES WHEREVER PARTICULAR PEOPLE CONGREGATE - Trademark Details". Justia.
  10. ^ U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security. COPYRIGHT, TRADEMARK,AND TRADE NAME RECORDATIONS (No. 12 2015) (PDF) (Report). p. 3.
  11. ^ Elliott, Andrew B. R. (2017). Medievalism, Politics and Mass Media: Appropriating the Middle Ages in the Twenty-First Century. Medievalism Volume 10. Woodbridge: Boydell. p. 166. ISBN 978-1-84384-463-1.
  12. ^ Grierson, Philip (1982). Byzantine Coins. University of California Press. p. 111. ISBN 0-520-04897-0.
  13. ^ Kuzniewsk, Anthony. "Top 25 Moments in Holy Cross History". Retrieved 26 April 2022.

Sources

  • Eusebius. "1.28". Βίος Κωνσταντίνου [Vita Constantini] (in Greek). At the Internet Archive.
  • Eusebius. "1.28". Eusebius - Constantine and the sign of the cross. www.earlychurchtexts.com (in Greek). Passages 1.26-31 of Vita Constantini.
  • Eusebius. "1.28". Vita Constantini (PDF). www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu (in Latin). Vol. Book 1. p. 7 (21–22 on scanned book).
  • Lactantius. "Lucii Caecilii liber ad Donatum Confessorem de Mortibus Persecutorum". www.thelatinlibrary.com (in Latin).

External links

  Media related to In hoc signo vinces at Wikimedia Commons

January 12, 2023
signo, vinces, classical, latin, hoːk, ˈsɪŋnoː, ˈwɪŋkeːs, ecclesiastical, latin, ˈsiɲo, ˈvintʃes, latin, phrase, conventionally, translated, into, english, this, sign, thou, shalt, conquer, detail, from, century, byzantine, manuscript, constantine, defeats, ma. In hoc signo vinces Classical Latin ɪn hoːk ˈsɪŋnoː ˈwɪŋkeːs Ecclesiastical Latin in ok ˈsiɲo ˈvintʃes is a Latin phrase conventionally translated into English as In this sign thou shalt conquer Detail from a 9th century Byzantine manuscript Constantine defeats Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge the vision of Constantine is a Greek cross with ἐn toytῳ nika written on it Detail from The Vision of the Cross by assistants of Raphael depicting the vision of the cross and the Greek writing Ἐn toytῳ nika in the sky before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge In hoc signo vinces on a 1721 Portuguese coin from the reign of King Joao V Flag of Kallergis brothers The Latin phrase itself renders rather loosely the Greek phrase ἐn toytῳ nika transliterated as en toutōi nika Ancient Greek en tuːtɔːi niːkaː Modern Greek en ˈtuto ˈnika literally meaning in this conquer Contents 1 History 2 Cultural references 3 See also 4 Notes 5 Sources 6 External linksHistory EditLucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius was an early Christian author c 240 c 320 who became an advisor to the first Christian Roman emperor Constantine I and tutor to his son guiding the Emperor s religious policy as it developed during his reign 1 His work De Mortibus Persecutorum has an apologetic character but has been treated as a work of history by Christian writers Here Lactantius preserves the story of Constantine s vision of the Chi Rho before his conversion to Christianity 2 The full text is found in only one manuscript which bears the title Lucii Caecilii liber ad Donatum Confessorem de Mortibus Persecutorum The bishop Eusebius of Caesaria a historian states that Constantine was marching with his army Eusebius does not specify the actual location of the event but it is clearly not in the camp at Rome when he looked up to the sun and saw a cross of light above it and with it the Greek words ἐn toytῳ nika In this conquer 3 a phrase often rendered into Latin as in hoc signo vinces in this sign you will conquer 4 At first Constantine did not know the meaning of the apparition but on the following night he had a dream in which Christ explained to him that he should use the sign of the cross against his enemies Eusebius then continues to describe the Labarum 5 the military standard used by Constantine in his later wars against Licinius showing the Chi Rho sign The accounts by Lactantius and Eusebius though not entirely consistent have been connected to the Battle of the Milvian Bridge 312 AD having merged into a popular notion of Constantine seeing the Chi Rho sign on the evening before the battle The phrase appears prominently placed as a motto on a ribbon unfurled with a passion cross to its left beneath a window over the Scala Regia adjacent to the equestrian statue of Emperor Constantine in the Vatican 6 Emperors and other monarchs having paid respects to the Pope descended the Scala Regia and would observe the light shining down through the window with the motto reminiscent of Constantine s vision and be reminded to follow the Cross The Kingdom of Portugal had used this motto since 1139 according with the legend in Lusiadas Cultural references EditInscribed on the banner of the Sanfedismo in 1799 7 Inscribed in Greek on the flag obverse side of the Sacred Band of the Greek War of Independence 8 Part of the trademark for Pall Mall cigarettes PALL MALL IN HOC SIGNO VINCES WHEREVER PARTICULAR PEOPLE CONGREGATE 9 10 It is the public motto of the English Defence League emblazoned around the group s logo 11 The phrase is the motto on some Byzantine coins e g the folles of Constans II 12 It is the motto on most regimental flags of the Irish Brigade France In hoc signo vinces is the motto on the O Donnell coat of arms It is the motto for the College of the Holy Cross 13 See also EditList of Latin phrasesNotes Edit Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius Online Catholic Encyclopedia New Advent Roberts Alexander Donaldson James eds 1871 The manner in which persecutors died Chapter 44 The works of Lactantius Volume II Ante Nicene Christian Library Translations of the writings of the Fathers Down to A D 325 Vol XXII Edinburgh p 203 Eusebius 1 28 Vita Constantini PDF www documentacatholicaomnia eu p 944 Haaren John H Poland A B 2006 1904 Famous Men of Rome Yesterday s Classics p 229 ISBN 978 159915 046 8 Eusebius Vita Constantini 1 31 p 946 Howard Hibbard 30 August 1990 Bernini Penguin Books Limited p 122 ISBN 978 0 14 193542 3 Chadwick Owen 1981 The Popes and European Revolution Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 826919 6 p 474 Helene P Kokkone Katerina Korre Zographou Chrysa Daskalopoulou 1997 Ellhnikes Shmaies Shmata Emblhmata in Greek Athens G Tsiberiotes ISBN 960 7795 01 6 PALL MALL IN HOC SIGNO VINCES WHEREVER PARTICULAR PEOPLE CONGREGATE Trademark Details Justia U S Customs and Border Protection Department of Homeland Security COPYRIGHT TRADEMARK AND TRADE NAME RECORDATIONS No 12 2015 PDF Report p 3 Elliott Andrew B R 2017 Medievalism Politics and Mass Media Appropriating the Middle Ages in the Twenty First Century Medievalism Volume 10 Woodbridge Boydell p 166 ISBN 978 1 84384 463 1 Grierson Philip 1982 Byzantine Coins University of California Press p 111 ISBN 0 520 04897 0 Kuzniewsk Anthony Top 25 Moments in Holy Cross History Retrieved 26 April 2022 Sources EditEusebius 1 28 Bios Kwnstantinoy Vita Constantini in Greek At the Internet Archive Eusebius 1 28 Eusebius Constantine and the sign of the cross www earlychurchtexts com in Greek Passages 1 26 31 of Vita Constantini Eusebius 1 28 Vita Constantini PDF www documentacatholicaomnia eu in Latin Vol Book 1 p 7 21 22 on scanned book Lactantius Lucii Caecilii liber ad Donatum Confessorem de Mortibus Persecutorum www thelatinlibrary com in Latin External links Edit Media related to In hoc signo vinces at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title In hoc signo vinces amp oldid 1086708694, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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