Remembering the Battle of the Milvian Bridge

On this day in 312 AD our sacred Order’s patron, Emperor Constantine the Great, defeated the usurper Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. The day before the epic battle that changed the world, the Emperor had a vision of the Chi and the Rho (XP), the first two letters of Christ’s name in Greek, and heard a voice proclaim “In Hoc Signo Vinces,” which means “By this sign you will conquer.” Ordering his militia to paint the symbol on their shields, Constantine’s legions won the day against the more numerous enemy. The Emperor converted to Christianity and with the promulgation of the Edict of Milan legalized the faith, thus ending 300 years of religious persecution. Constantine’s guard would became the ancestors of the Knights and Dames of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George and their symbol and the initials IHSV remain on our badges