Book val1
2.2
This Constantine, then, born of Helena, a mother of very common origin, and brought up in the town of Naissus,In Moesia, on the river Margus; cf. xxi. 10, 5; modern Nis, in Yugoslavia. which he afterwards splendidly adorned, had but slight training in letters. minus = minus iusto, Tillemont iv, p. 132 (Wagner). He was held as a hostage by Diocletian and Galerius,To secure his father’s loyalty. and did valiant service under those emperors in Asia. After the abdication of Diocletian and Herculius,Maximianus (Herculius), in 305. ConstantiusConstantius Chlorus. asked Galerius to return his son; but Galerius first exposed him to many dangers.
2.3
For when Constantine, then a young man, was serving in the cavalry against the Sarmatians, he seized by the hair and carried off a fierce savage, and threw him at the feet of the emperor Galerius. Then sent by Galerius through a swamp, he entered it on his horse and made a way for the rest to the Sarmatians, of whom he slew many and won the victory for Galerius.
