Who was Constantine the Great? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Constantine I of the Roman Empire, Constantine I, Saint Constantine, Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus Augustus

Died At Age: 65

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Fausta, Minervina

father: Constantius Chlorus

mother: Helena

siblings: Eutropia, Flavia Julia Constantia, Julius Constantius

children: Constans, Constantina, Constantine II, Constantius II, Crispus, Helena

Born Country: Roman Empire

Emperors & Kings Ancient Roman Men

Died on: May 22, 337

place of death: Achyron, Nicomedia, Bithynia, Roman Empire

Founder/Co-Founder: First Council of Nicaea, Scholae Palatinae

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1

What were Constantine the Great's major accomplishments?

Constantine the Great is best known for being the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity and for issuing the Edict of Milan in 313, which granted religious tolerance to Christians in the Roman Empire. He also reunited the Roman Empire under his rule and established Constantinople as the new capital.
2

What impact did Constantine the Great have on Christianity?

Constantine's conversion to Christianity and support for the religion had a significant impact on its growth and development. He played a key role in ending the persecution of Christians and promoting the faith throughout the Roman Empire.
3

What was the significance of the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in Constantine the Great's reign?

The Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD was a turning point for Constantine the Great. It was during this battle that Constantine reportedly saw a vision of the Christian symbol, the Chi-Rho, and heard a voice saying "In this sign, you shall conquer." Constantine emerged victorious and attributed his success to the Christian God.
4

How did Constantine the Great impact the Roman Empire's political structure?

Constantine the Great made several important changes to the political structure of the Roman Empire. He centralized power in the hands of the emperor, reformed the administrative divisions of the empire, and introduced new administrative offices to help govern effectively.
5

What was the significance of Constantine the Great's conversion to Christianity for the Roman Empire?

Constantine's conversion to Christianity had a profound impact on the Roman Empire. It led to the eventual establishment of Christianity as the state religion, marking a major shift in the empire's religious and cultural landscape.

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Childhood & Early Life

The details regarding Constantine’s early life are obscure. He was born c. 272 AD to Flavius Constantius, a native of Dardania who was an officer in the Roman army, and an woman named Helena who was either Constantius’ wife or concubine.

His father was a politically skilled man and quickly rose through the military ranks. In 293, he was raised to the rank of Caesar (deputy emperor) as Constantius I Chlorus, and was sent to serve under Augustus (emperor) Maximian in the West.

Constantine’s parents eventually separated and he was brought up in the Eastern Empire at the court of the senior emperor Diocletian at Nicomedia. He received education of the highest literary standards and learned Latin and Greek among other subjects. During this time he may have attended the lectures of Lactantius, a Christian scholar of Latin in the city.

In 305, Maximian abdicated the throne and Constantine's father became Emperor Constantius I. Constantine then joined his father and fought alongside him on a military campaign in Britian.

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Accession & Reign

Constantius I died in 306 and Constantine was declared emperor by his troops. Almost immediately, he became involved in a series of civil wars and defended his position against various Roman factions, including Maxentius, Maximian's son.

Eventually Constantine became Western emperor while the East was shared between Licinius and his rival Maximinus. Licinius went on to defeat Maximinus and became the sole Eastern Emperor.

In 316, Constantine acquired territory in the Balkans after a battle with Licinius. The conflicts between the two rulers continued and Constantine attacked Licinius again in 324, emerging successful from the war. Thus Constantine became the sole emperor of the East and West.

After the victory over Licinius, it was decided that a new Eastern capital should represent the integration of the East into the Roman Empire as a whole. The city of Constantinople on the site of Byzantium was thus founded in 324 and dedicated in 330. Special commemorative coins were issued in 330 to honor the event.

As emperor he brought about several administrative, monetary, and religious reforms that greatly strengthened his empire. In fact he was so devoted to Christianity that even his monetary policies were closely related to the religious ones.

Along with his military campaigns, Constantine the Great was well-known for his contributions to Christianity. He was the first emperor to legalize Christianity along with all other religions and cults in the Roman Empire, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built at the purported site of Jesus' tomb in Jerusalem, was built on his orders. He is venerated as a saint by Eastern Orthodox Christians, Byzantine Catholics, and Anglicans in honor of his efforts to propagate the Christian religion.

Major Battles

Constantine became involved in a series of battles soon after succeeding his father. These conflicts, known as the Civil wars of the Tetrarchy, were a series of battles between the co-emperors of the Roman Empire, which ultimately led to Constantine becoming the sole emperor of the Roman Empire in 324.

Personal Life & Legacy

He either took Minervina as a concubine or married her in 303. This union resulted in the birth of a son, Crispus. Not much is known about Minervina except for the fact that her father served as a hostage in the court of Eastern Roman Emperor Diocletian in Nicomedia.

Constantine kept aside Minervina and married Fausta, daughter of the Roman Emperor Maximian in 307. This marriage was a political alliance.

During the 320s he had his eldest son Crispus and wife Fausta executed. Then he had their names wiped from the face of many inscriptions and the memory of both was condemned. A popular myth suggests that they were both killed for their immoralities.

Soon after the Feast of Easter in 337, Constantine fell seriously ill and died on 22 May 337. He was succeeded by his three sons born of Fausta, Constantine II, Constantius II and Constans.

Facts About Constantine the Great

Constantine the Great was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, a decision that had a profound impact on the history of both the Roman Empire and the Christian faith.

He founded the city of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), which became the new capital of the Roman Empire and a hub of culture, trade, and political power.

Constantine's reign marked a period of relative stability and prosperity for the Roman Empire, known as the Constantinian dynasty, and his reforms laid the foundation for the Byzantine Empire that would follow.

Constantine the Great Biography

You wanted to know

What were Constantine the Great's major accomplishments?

What impact did Constantine the Great have on Christianity?

What was the significance of the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in Constantine the Great's reign?

How did Constantine the Great impact the Roman Empire's political structure?

What was the significance of Constantine the Great's conversion to Christianity for the Roman Empire?