Labarum (Chi-Rho)
Labarum is the name by which the military standard
adopted by Constantine the Great after his celebrated
vision (Lactantius, "De mortibus persecutorum", c.
xliv), was known in antiquity. The original labarum,
designed under the emperor's direction on the day
subsequent to the appearance of the "cross of light",
is described by Eusebius (Vita Constant., I, 26) as "a
long spear, overlaid with gold", which with a
transverse bar formed the figure of a cross. "On the
top of the whole was fixed a wreath of gold and
precious stones, and within this the symbol of the
Saviour's name, two letters indicating the name of
Christ by means of the initial letters, the letter X
intersection P at the centre." These two letters formed
what is known as the monogram of Constantine, so called
-- not because it was the invention of this emperor,
for it had been a familiar Christian symbol prior to
his conversion, but - because of the great popularity
it enjoyed from the date of its appearance on the
imperial standards. From the cross-bar of the spear,
was suspended a purple banner with the Greek
inscription TOUTO NIKA -- i. e. conquer by this (sign),
usually rendered in Latin "In hoc signo vinces" (in
this sign thou shalt conquer). This banner, square in
form, covered with a rich embroidery of precious
stones, and "being also richly interlaced with gold,
presented an indescribable degree of beauty to the
beholder". The part of the staff immediately above the
embroidered banner was adorned with medallions of the
emperor and his children. Fifty soldiers of the
imperial guard, distinguished for bravery and piety,
were entrusted with the care and defense of the new
sacred standard (Vita Constant., II, 8). Standards,
similar to the original labarum in its essential
features were supplied to all the legions, and the
monogram was also engraved on the soldiers' shields. An
idea of some of the deviations in form of the standards
furnished to different divisions of the army may be
obtained from several coins of Constantine's reign
still preserved. On one coin, for instance, the
portrait of the emperor and his sons are represented on
the banner instead of on the staff; on a second the
banner is inscribed with the monogram and surmounted by
the equal-armed cross, while the royal portraits,
though on the shaft, are below instead of above the
banner. In form, the labarum of Constantine was an
adaptation of the already existing cavalry standard of
the Roman army; the pagan emblems were merely replaced
by Christian symbols. The term labarum, which is of
uncertain derivation, was probably familiar in the
Roman army from the reign of Hadrian.
MAURICE M. HASSETT
Transcribed by Michael C. Tinkler
[New Advent Catholic Website]
http://www.knight.org/advent
From the Catholic Encyclopedia, copyright � 1913 by the
Encyclopedia Press, Inc. Electronic version copyright �
1996 by New Advent, Inc., P.O. Box 281096, Denver,
Colorado, USA, 80228. (
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If you would like to contribute to this worthwhile
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