Constantine the Great - Emperor Constantine I

Who Was Constantine?:

Constantine is considered the most important of the later Roman emperors because:

• He was victorious against Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge,
• He supported Christianity (he proclaimed the Edict of Milan in 313 granting religious freedom to all),
• He created a new central city for the Roman Empire at Byzantium (Constantinople [later, Istanbul]).

Occupation:

Ruler

Family and Birth of Constantine:

Flavius Valerius Constantinus, who became the Emperor Constantine the Great, was born on Feb. 27, c. 280, in Naissus, in the province of Moesia Superior (Serbia), to a mother named Helena and an officer named Constantius. Constantine's father was to become the Emperor Constantius I (Constantius Chlorus) and Constantine's mother was to become the canonized St. Helena, who was thought to have found a portion of the cross of Jesus.

In Hoc Signo Vinces:

Constantine had probably experienced his great "in hoc signo vinces" vision in 312 before his victory at the Milvian Bridge battle. The story goes that Constantine had a vision of those words upon a Christian cross and that this vision prompted Constantine to pledge to convert if he actually did win the battle. Since he was the victor, the vision led to his conversion to Christianity -- ultimately.

Constantine on Heresy:

Constantine was not yet a baptized Christian when he settled matters of Christian dogma and the Arian Controversy at the First Nicene Council (First Council of Nicaea), which ended on August (or July) 25, 325. As a result of his initial decision against the Arians, Constantine exiled his friend Eusebius for holding an heretical position, but then revised his opinion and recalled Eusebius.

Death of Constantine:

Constantine died in 22 May, 337 at Nicomedia, shortly after his baptism by the Arian bishop, his friend Eusebius of Nicomedia.

Was the deathbed conversion of Constantine the act of a moral pragmatist?

"Constantine was enough of a Christian to wait until his deathbed to be baptized. He knew that a ruler had to do things that were against Christian teachings, so he waited until he no longer had to do such things. That may be the thing that I most respect him for."
Kirk Johnson

or a duplicitous hypocrite?

"If I believe in the Christian god, but know that I will have to do things which are against the teachings of that faith, I can be excused for doing so by postponing baptism? Yes, I'll join Alcoholics Anonymous after this crate of beer. If that isn't duplicity and subscription to double standards, then nothing is."
ROBINPFEIFER

See: "Religion and Politics at the Council at Nicaea," by Robert M. Grant. The Journal of Religion, Vol. 55, No. 1 (Jan., 1975), pp. 1-12

Go to other Ancient / Classical History pages on Roman men beginning with the letters:

A-G | H-M | N-R | S-Z

Constantine is on the list of Most Important People to Know in Ancient History.