Roberto MONTEFINESE (Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia)
BETWEEN SWORD AND CROSS: THE CHRISTIANIZATION OF ROMAN MILITARY CULTURE FROM PERSECUTION TO SYM-BOLIC TRANSFORMATION
Keywords: Christianization, roman army, military religion, identity transformation, miles Christi.
Abstract: This paper analyzes the impact of Christianity on Roman military culture during the later period of the Empire. The transition from traditional religion, centered on pagan cults and loyalty to the emperor, to Christian values led to a profound transformation of the Roman soldier’s identity. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the study examines how religious beliefs influenced military life, from ritual practices to spiritual symbolism and new forms of allegiance. Literary, epigraphic, and archaeological sources are explored to understand this transitional process, in which the soldier becomes not only a historical figure but also a theological symbol. The result is a reinterpretation of the military role within a new religious and cultural order.