In hoc signo vinces

" In hoc signo vinces " ( German: " In this sign you will conquer " ) is a Latin phrase. It refers to the victory of Constantine the Great against his rival Maxentius in 312 at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.

The bishop and church writer Eusebius of Caesarea is the author of a biography of Emperor Constantine ( Vita Constantini ). In this he talks about the battle in 312 ( Vita Constantini I 28-30). Konstantin is ἐν a shining cross with the inscription before this battle τούτῳ be published νίκα and to have had a dream in which Christ explained to him that he should use the sign against his enemies as a result of this phenomenon. Eusebius further reports that Constantine had ordered then, the labarum as a banner to use (see monogram of Christ ).

The Latin in hoc signo vinces reproduction (ie in the future tense - form) of the Greek original text, however, is inaccurate. The traditional Eusebius text is translated correctly ( as well as the playback in most historic Publications ): "By this victory ." The modified Latin playback (or hoc signo victor eris [" Under this sign you will be victor " ] ) is not found while on coins, but at Constantine's lifetime.