So Constantine armed himself and made ready to fight Maxentius, king of Rome. He fashioned a large cross of gold, fixed it to the top of the standard, and set out with the intention of confronting Maxentius.
When Maxentius learned that Constantine had come out against him, he too prepared for war. He built a bridge over the river that lay before Rome, and with all his troops marched out to meet Constantine.
Allah granted Constantine victory: he slew a great multitude of Maxentius’s men, while Maxentius himself fled. He and his followers were drowned, so that the river beside Rome was choked with the dead and the drowned.
The people of Rome came forth to Constantine bearing a golden crown and every manner of festivity and amusement. They met him and rejoiced exceedingly.
Upon entering the city, Constantine ordered that the bodies of the crucified Christian martyrs be buried. All Christians who had fled, or whom Maxentius had exiled, were permitted to return to their homes, and whatever had been taken from them was restored.
The Romans celebrated for seven days in honour of the king and the cross, rejoicing all the while.
When Alanius heard the news, he gathered whatever forces he could muster and prepared to do battle with Constantine.