On October 29th AD 312, Emperor Constantine (306-337) defeated "ad Saxa Rubra" (near Ponte Milvio in Rome) his rival Maxentius and took the supreme command of the entire Roman Empire. As everybody knows, the eve of the battle he had seen a shining Cross with the motto "In Hoc Signo Vinces"; during the night he had the divine warning of decorating the flags of his soldiers with a Cross. Constantine believed and had the Christian symbol on his flags – which he called "Labarum", from the Greek "Lapbyron", which means flag of victory – and Christ’s monogram “XP". He and his sons initialled also their helmets, shields, swords and cuirasses and the soldiers did the same with their armours.
Constantine entrusted 50 Knights chosen from his cohort with the custody of the labarum.
As traditionally relate, the Emperor wanted to commemorate his victory by establishing a knightly order and personally invested the first fifty knights. The "Constantinian Golden Chivalry” was established in this way (golden because of the collar made of pure gold and worn by the highest dignitaries), the oldest of the Orders of knighthood; it represents the model of all other subsequent militias in their classical meaning .
As set by its Statutes, it aims at "glorifying the Cross" and "propagating the Faith", especially through charity activities and support to the Catholic Church.
During the centuries, its Knights have constantly fulfilled this task and in fact they acquired many special merits in defending and propagating the Faith, and the Popes have granted them many certificates of merit.
The Order has always found its specific function in serving the Church through the centuries and in adjusting to the real needs of the time under the lead of its Grand Masters.
For instance, during the Turkish conquest of the Balkans, the Knights died to defend Christian religion and society. In recent times, knights and ladies generously gave their help in public assistance services – on hospital-trains and in most important city hospitals – during the First World War in favour of the troops; then during the Second Worlds War they served the prisoners given to them by the Presidency of the Prisoners and Research Office and the Italian Red Cross; during the Kosovo war they helped abandoned children.
By decree of the President of the Republic issued on 30 March 1973 the “National Association of Constantinian Knights” became a non-profit agency and it now carries out its activities through voluntary work and the donation of medical and scientific equipment, as well as the support of patients and populations struck by natural disasters.