Labărum
（
λάβαρον and
λάβουρον).
The sacred banner or standard borne before the Roman emperors in war from the time of
Constantine. It is described as a long pike intersected by a transverse beam. A silken veil,
of a purple colour, hung down from the beam, and was adorned with precious stones, and
curiously inwrought with the images of the reigning monarch and his children. The summit of
the pike supported a crown of gold, which enclosed the monogram at once expressive of the
figure of the cross, and the two initial letters (X and P) of the name of Christ. The safety
of the Labarum was intrusted to fifty guards of approved valour and fidelity. In the
Second Civil War, Licinius felt the power of this consecrated banner, the sight of which, in
the stress of battle, animated the soldiers of Constantine with an invincible enthusiasm, and
scattered terror and dismay through the adverse legions. Eusebius (
Vit. Const.
i. 2, 7 foll.) introduces the Labarum before the Italian expedition of Constantine; but his
narrative seems to indicate that it was never shown at the head of an army till Constantine,
about ten years afterwards, declared himself the enemy of Licinius and the deliverer of the
Church. The Christian emperors, who re
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Labarum.
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spected the example of Constantine, displayed in all their military expeditions the
standard of the cross; but when the successors of Theodosius had ceased to appear in person at
the head of their armies, the Labarum was deposited as a venerable but useless relic in the
palace of Constantinople. Its form is still preserved on the medals of the Flavian family; and
there is extant a medal of the emperor Constantius, where the standard of the Labarum is
accompanied with these memorable words: “By this sign thou shalt conquer.”
The history of this standard is a curious one. A contemporary writer (Caecilius) affirms
that in the night which preceded the last battle against Maxentius (A.D. 312), Constantine was
admonished in a dream to inscribe the shields of his soldiers with the “celestial
sign of God,” the sacred monogram of the name of Christ; that he executed the
command, and that his obedience was rewarded by a decisive victory at the Milvian bridge. The
dream of Constantine may be naturally explained either by the enthusiasm or the policy of the
emperor. While his anxiety for the approaching day, which must decide the fate of the Empire,
was suspended by a short and interrupted slumber, the revered form of the
Saviour and the well-known symbol of his religion might forcibly offer themselves to the
active fancy of a prince who reverenced the name, and had, perhaps, secretly implored the
power of the God of the Christians. As readily, on the other hand, might a consummate
statesman indulge himself in the use of one of those military stratagems, one of those pious
frauds, which Philip and Sertorius had employed with such art and effect.
The account given by Eusebius , however, is different from this. According to his statement,
Constantine is reported to have seen with his own eyes the luminous trophy of the cross placed
above the meridian sun, and inscribed with the following words in Greek:
Ἐν τούτῳ νίκα. This appearance in the sky astonished the whole army, as well
as the emperor himself, who was yet undetermined in the choice of a religion; but his
astonishment was converted into faith by the vision of the ensuing night. The Saviour appeared
before his eyes, and displayed the same celestial sign of the cross, directing Constantine to
frame a similar standard, and to march, with an assurance of victory, against Maxentius and
all his enemies.
The form of the Labarum and monogram may be seen, as we have already said, on the medals of
the Flavian family. The etymology of the term itself has given rise to many conflicting
opinions. Some derive the name from
labor; others from
εὐλάβεια, “reverence”; others from
λαμβάνειν, “to take”; and others, again, from
λάφυρα, “spoils.” One writer makes
Labarum to be like S.P.Q.R., only a
notatio, or combination of initials
to represent an equal number of terms; and thus, L.A.B.A.R.V.M. will stand for
Legionum
aquila Byzantium antiqua Roma urbe mutavit.
