Biography constantine the great

(280-337)

Who Was Constantine I?

Constantine I's father became the Western Roman emperor in 305. After his father's death, Constantine fought to take power. He became the Western emperor in 312 and the sole Roman emperor in 324. Constantine was also the first emperor to adhere to Christianity. He issued an edict that protected Christians in the empire and converted to Christianity on his deathbed in 337.

Early Life

Flavius Valerius Constantinus, who would become Roman emperor Constantine I, was born on February 27, circa 280 (sources range from 272 to 284), in Naissus, Moesia (now Niš, Serbia). His father, Flavius Valerius Constantius, was an officer in the Roman army. Constantine's mother, Helena, was from humble beginnings; it is unknown whether she was the wife or concubine of Constantius.

In 289, Constantine's father left Helena to marry the stepdaughter of Maximian, the Western Roman emperor. Constantine's father was elevated to deputy emperor under Maximian in 293. Constantine himself was sent to the court of Diocletian, the Eastern Roman emperor. There, Constantine was educated in Latin and Greek. He likely also witnessed the persecution of Christians.

In 305, following Maximian's abdication, Constantine's father became Emperor Constantius I. Constantine then joined his father on a military campaign and fought alongside him in Britain. The next year, Constantius died at Eboracum (now York). Constantine was declared emperor by his troops. To make the designation official, he began to fight for power.

Rise to Power

During a period of civil war, Constantine defended his position against different Roman factions, including Maxentius, Maximian's son. In 312, Constantine fought in Italy, meeting Maxentius and his forces at the Milvian Bridge on the Tiber River. Accounts of Constantine's life state that, following a vision, he had ordered a Christian symbol to be painted on his soldiers' shields. Under this emblem, Constantine was succe

Without a doubt, Constantine the Great is one of the most influential Roman emperors. He came to power at a pivotal moment for the Empire after winning a decades-long civil war. As the sole ruler of the Roman Empire, Constantine I personally oversaw the major monetary, military, and administrative reforms, laying the foundation for the strong and stable 4h-century state. By leaving the Roman Empire to his three sons, he established a powerful imperial dynasty. Constantine the Great is, however, best known for accepting Christianity, a watershed moment that led to rapid Christianization of the Roman Empire, changing not only the fate of the Empire but of the entire world. Lastly, by moving the imperial capital to the newly founded Constantinople, Constantine the Great ensured the Empire’s survival in the East for centuries after the fall of Rome.

Constantine the Great Was a Son of a Roman Emperor

Flavius Valerius Constantius, future emperor Constantine the Great, was born in 272 CE in the Roman province of Upper Moesia (present-day Serbia). His father, Constantius Chlorus, was a member of Aurelian’s bodyguard, who later became emperor in the Tetrarchy of Diocletian. By dividing the Roman Empire between the four rulers, Diocletian hoped to avoid the civil wars that plagued the state during the Third Century Crisis. Diocletian peacefully abdicated, but his system was doomed to fail. Following Constantius’ death in 306, his troops immediately proclaimed Constantine emperor, clearly violating the meritocratic Tetrarchy. What followed was the two-decade-long civil war.

Constantine Won the Crucial Battle at the Milvian Bridge

The decisive moment in the civil war came in 312 CE, when Constantine I defeated his rival, Emperor Maxentius, at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge outside Rome. Constantine was now in full control of the Roman West. But, more importantly, the victory over Maxentius m

Roman emperor from AD 306 to 337

"Constantine I" redirects here. For the third king of the modern Greek state, see Constantine I of Greece. For other uses, see Constantine I (disambiguation).

Constantine I (Flavius Valerius Constantinus; 27 February c. 272 – 22 May 337), also known as Constantine the Great, was a Roman emperor from AD 306 to 337 and the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. He played a pivotal role in elevating the status of Christianity in Rome, decriminalizing Christian practice and ceasing Christian persecution. This was a turning point in the Christianization of the Roman Empire. He founded the city of Constantinople and made it the capital of the Empire, which it remained for over a millennium.

Born in Naissus, in Dardania within Moesia Superior (now Niš, Serbia), Constantine was the son of Flavius Constantius, a Roman army officer of Illyrian origin who would become one of the four emperors of the Tetrarchy. His mother, Helena, was a woman of low birth, probably from Asia Minor in modern Turkey. Later canonised as a saint, she is credited for the conversion of her son in some

came to with his father, the emperor Constantius, in 305.  Constantius died in July the following year in .

The system of succession at the time demanded that another Caesar should become emperor but the soldiers in York immediately proclaimed their leader.  It proved to be a pivotal moment in history.  He is known as Constantine the Great for very good reasons.

After nearly 80 years, and three generations of political fragmentation, united the whole of the under one ruler.  By 324 he had extended his power and was sole emperor, restoring stability and security to the Roman world.

also abandoned as the most important city in the empire, building a new capital modestly named Constantinople (now ).  In the next two centuries, and became vulnerable to barbarian invasions.  The much more easily defensible lasted for another thousand years.

Finally, and perhaps most famously, ’s strong support for Christianity had an incalculable impact on European history.  He is said to have been converted to the faith in AD 312, although this has not been corroborated.

At the time only around ten per cent of the ’s population was Christian.  The majority of the ruling elite worshipped the old gods of .  was the first emperor to allow Christians to worship freely, helping to unite and promote the faith.  He went on to instigate the celebration of the birth of Christ we call Christmas.

In 314, a year after ’s edict on religious tolerance, Eboracum had its first Bishop.  Along with the Bishop’s of Londinium () and Lindum (Lincoln), he attended the Christian Council at .

didn’t stay long in , establishing as his base for his campaigns against the Germans perhaps a year after his succession.  However his place in York's history was already very firmly sealed.

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