Why was the Edict of Milan significant?

The Edict of Toleration had already granted Christians and followers other non-pagan religions explicit freedom of worship. The Edict of Milan built on this by guaranteeing the return of any appropriated church property and granting Christians some additional privileges, although in practice the Edict of Milan was not used to the advantage of Gnostic Christians, whom Emperor Constantine regarded as an unnecessary and divisive influence. The Edict of Milan was significant more in what it did not say - it demonstrated to acolytes, and to those with imperial ambitions, where Emperor Constantine's loyalties lay.