So a year passed and by its end Constantine who showed all the natural instincts of a fine soldier and particularly a cavalryman was the equal and generally the superior of the other young officer candidates.
The months of vigorous training had changed him from a youth into a handsome young man. He was taller than average and his shoulders broader, while his strength had increased immeasurably under the rigorous training. Nor had the intellectual side of his maturing been neglected, for the cadets were assigned as pupils in rhetoric to Lucas Caelius Lactantius, one of the foremost teachers of the Empire, who had been brought to Nicomedia by Diocletian in order to assist with the instruction of the young men of the imperial household.
Lactantius insisted that Constantine improve his Greek, which had been largely neglected, but progress here was rather slow for he was not primarily a student. He was introduced by his tutor, however, to much of the great literature of Rome, so his mind was broadened and stimulated while his body was being hardened and sharpened as an instrument of war.
For weeks they had been preparing for a huge military show to be held in connection with the Festival of the Augustalia, a holiday devoted to the worship of the deified emperors which had begun with Augustus many years before. The day of the Augustalia dawned bright and clear and household troops were aroused as usual by a blast upon the cornu of the sentry assigned for that purpose. Breakfast was eaten in the half light of early dawn, but the morning run was dispensed with in order to allow time for polishing gear and arraying themselves in the uniforms which had been issued for the occasion.
Throne of the Emperor
Constantine had been assigned to lead one of two turmae of cavalry in a demonstration before the throne of the Emperor, which had been set up at one side of the great stadium. The other commander was Prince Crocus, the Gallic instructor, and for weeks the two groups had practiced until each man was at the peak of his skill.
The opening exercise of the military review was carried out by
the household troops, marching and countermarching in full armor and weapons. The display brought cheers from the members of the court and the townspeople, who were crowded around the entire field except the small area from which the troops maneuvered. Constantine had been looking forward to this opportunity to impress the Emperor with his ability, but when he looked across the field, he saw that the stocky erect figure occupying the central throne this morning was not Diocletian. Dacius, who was acting as seneschal for the affair, gave him the answer.
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