The Triumph of an Emperor () is a 1913 Italian epic silent film, directed by Nino Oxilia. The film recounts the rise to power of Constantine the Great, from the collapse of the Tetrarchy to the Edict of Milan. This monumental epic employed around 600 extras for the crowd scenes. Divided into three parts, it remained the longest film in Italian silent cinema until the release of Cabiria in 1914. It was distributed in France, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United States. It enjoyed particular success in the Catholic south of the Netherlands, where it was screened until the early 1920s.
Synopsis Under the rule of the Tetrarchs the Roman Empire is plagued by civil wars and the bloody persecution of Christians. Meanwhile, life in the imperial palaces is characterised by unbridled luxury and dynastic intrigue. In 312 AD, Constantine crosses the Alps into Italy with his army to defeat the usurper Maxentius. Following several victories, Constantine establishes his camp near the Ponte Milvio on the Tiber, preparing for the final assault. The night before the battle, he has a vision of Christ in heaven, urging him to place the Cross on his soldiers' shields and promising him victory. Fighting under the banner of Christianity, Constantine's army overpowers the enemy, and Maxentius is drowned in the Tiber while fleeing. The following year, Constantinenow Emperor of the Westand LiciniusEmperor of the East and husband of Constantine's sister Constantiaissue the Edict of Milan (313 AD), granting freedom of worship for all religions and putting an end to the persecution of Christians.
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