Above : Statue of Emperor Constantine

 For many years after the full development of their Empire, the Romans remained Pagan. The Christian religion, however, had steadily advanced, despite the most fearful persecutions, until it permeated all the Roman dominions. With the conversion of the Emperor Constantine (a.d. 312) it had become the official religion of the Empire, and soon it completely supplanted the old Paganism. Accepted and practised throughout all the Roman territories, Christianity now spread from the Caspian to the Irish Sea.

Above: The Kings

The brothers Eber-Finn and Eremon had no sooner settled down in their new kingdoms than they quarrelled and fought a battle (A.M. 3501), in which Eber was defeated and slain, and Eremon became sole king. By far the greater number of the Irish Pagan kings after Eremon fell in battle or by assassination : a few only of the most distinguished need be noticed here.