(c. 27 February 272 – 22 May 337) Commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine was Roman Emperor from 306 to 337. Well known for being the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity,[notes 4] Constantine reversed the persecutions of his predecessor, Diocletian, and issued the Edict of Milan in 313, which proclaimed religious tolerance of Christians throughout the empire.
The foremost general of his time, Constantine defeated the emperors Maxentius and Licinius during civil wars. He also fought successfully against the Franks, Alamanni, Visigoths, and Sarmatians during his reign – even resettling parts of Dacia which had been abandoned during the previous century. Constantine also transformed the ancient Greek colony of Byzantium into a new imperial residence, Constantinople, which would be the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire for over one thousand years.Before Constantine became Emperor, he was fighting for the throne at the Battle of Milvian Bridge. When he saw a cross in the sky with the words in hoc signo vinces (Latin for "in this sign you shall conquer"), he changed his deity from Apollo to Jesus. He later won the battle and attributed it to the power of his new religion.
Constantine became the first Emperor to adopt Christianity and this played a crucial role in the development and spread of Christianity. Previously, it had been against the law to believe in Christianity, and Christians had often been tortured or killed. Constantine changed this. Before Constantine became Emperor, he was fighting for the throne at the Battle of Milvian Bridge. When he saw a cross in the sky with the words in hoc signo vinces (Latin for "in this sign you shall conquer"), he changed his deity from Apollo to Jesus and won the battle.
In pagan Rome before this, it had been against the law to believe in Christianity, and Christians had been tortured or killed, but Constantine made sure that this stopped, and that they were given their property back. He went on to organize the whole Catholic Church at the Council of Nicea, even though he himself did not get baptized until near the end of his life.
Constantine was also a big part of the beginning of the Orthodox religion, after changing the point from which he ruled from Rome to Byzantium.
Religious rules
Constantine is perhaps best known for being the first Christian Roman emperor. His rule changed the Church greatly. In February 313, Constantine met with Licinius in Milan where they made the Edict of Milan. The edict said that Christians could believe what they wanted. This stopped people from punishing Christians, who had often been martyred. It also returned the property which had been taken away from them. The edict not only protected Christians, but all religions, allowing anyone to worship whatever they wanted. In 311, Galerius had made a similar edict, though it did not return any property to them.
Constantine did not support Christianity alone, though. After winning the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, an arch (the Arch of Constantine) was built to celebrate, but the arch was decorated with pictures of sacrifices to gods like Apollo, Diana, or Hercules, but did not have any Christian symbolism. In 321, Constantine said that Christians and non-Christians should all join the "day of the sun" (the eastern sun-worship which Aurelian had helped him introduce). His coins also had symbols of the sun-cult until 324. Even after pagan gods disappeared from the coins, Christians symbols never appeared on the coin, either. Even when Constantine dedicated the new capital of Constantinople, he was wearing the Apollonian sun-rayed Diadem.
Constantine also went on to organize the whole Catholic Church at the Council of Nicea, even though he himself did not get baptized until near the end of his life.
Constantine did not support Christianity alone, though. After winning the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, an arch (the Arch of Constantine) was built to celebrate, but the arch was decorated with pictures of sacrifices to gods like Apollo, Diana, or Hercules, but did not have any Christian symbolism. In 321, Constantine said that Christians and non-Christians should all join the "day of the sun" (the eastern sun-worship which Aurelian had helped him introduce). His coins also had symbols of the sun-cult until 324. Even after pagan gods disappeared from the coins, Christians symbols never appeared on the coin, either. Even when Constantine dedicated the new capital of Constantinople, he was wearing the Apollonian sun-rayed Diadem.
Constantine is perhaps best known for being the first Christian Roman emperor. His rule changed the Church greatly. In February 313, Constantine met with Licinius in Milan where they made the Edict of Milan. The edict said that Christians could believe what they wanted. This stopped people from punishing Christians, who had often been martyred. It also returned the property which had been taken away from them. The edict not only protected Christians, but all religions, allowing anyone to worship whatever they wanted. In 311, Galerius had made a similar edict, though it did not return any property to them.
Constantine did not support Christianity alone, though. After winning the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, an arch (the Arch of Constantine) was built to celebrate, but the arch was decorated with pictures of sacrifices to gods like Apollo, Diana, or Hercules, but did not have any Christian symbolism. In 321, Constantine said that Christians and non-Christians should all join the "day of the sun" (the eastern sun-worship which Aurelian had helped him introduce). His coins also had symbols of the sun-cult until 324. Even after pagan gods disappeared from the coins, Christians symbols never appeared on the coin, either. Even when Constantine dedicated the new capital of Constantinople, he was wearing the Apollonian sun-rayed Diadem.
Constantine also went on to organize the whole Catholic Church at the Council of Nicea, even though he himself did not get baptized until near the end of his life.
Constantine did not support Christianity alone, though. After winning the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, an arch (the Arch of Constantine) was built to celebrate, but the arch was decorated with pictures of sacrifices to gods like Apollo, Diana, or Hercules, but did not have any Christian symbolism. In 321, Constantine said that Christians and non-Christians should all join the "day of the sun" (the eastern sun-worship which Aurelian had helped him introduce). His coins also had symbols of the sun-cult until 324. Even after pagan gods disappeared from the coins, Christians symbols never appeared on the coin, either. Even when Constantine dedicated the new capital of Constantinople, he was wearing the Apollonian sun-rayed Diadem.
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