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==Historical Evidence for Use of the Labarum==
[[Image:Maiorina-Vetranio-siscia RIC 281.jpg|right|thumb|Coin of [[w:Vetranio|Vetranio]]; (ca.350); a soldier is holding two labara. Interestingly they differ from the labarum of Constantine in having the Chi-Rho depicted on the cloth rather than above it, having their staves decorated with [[w:Phalera (military decoration)|phalerae]] as were earlier Roman military unit standards.]]
Historians contend that those two accounts can hardly be reconciled with each other, though they have been merged in popular notion into Constantine seeing the Chi-Rho sign on the evening before the battle. There is no certain evidence of the use of the letters chi and rho as a Christian sign before [[Constantine the Great|Constantine]]. Its first appearance is on a Constantinian silver coin from ca. 317, which proves that Constantine did use the sign at that time, though not very prominently.<ref>Smith, 104: "What little evidence exists suggests that in fact the labarum bearing the chi-rho symbol was not used before 317, when Crispus became Caesar..."</ref> He made extensive use of the Chi-Rho and the labarum only later in the conflict with Licinius.
In the course of Constantine's second war against Licinius in 324, the latter developed a superstitious dread of Constantine's standard. During the attack of Constantine's troops at the [[w:Battle of Adrianople (324)|Battle of Adrianople]] the guard of the labarum standard were directed to move it to any part of the field where his soldiers seemed to be faltering. The appearance of this talismanic object appeared to embolden Constantine's troops and dismay those of Licinius.<ref>Odahl, p. 178.</ref> At the final battle of the war, the [[w:Battle of Chrysopolis|Battle of Chrysopolis]], Licinius, though prominently displaying the images of Rome's pagan pantheon on his own battle line, forbade his troops from actively attacking the labarum, or even looking at it directly.<ref>Odahl, p.180</ref>