After the Western Roman Empire collapsed under the threat of Germanic invaders, Byzantine remained intact. Three Decades of Rule Constantine would reign as Roman Emperor for an astonishing 31 years. After fleeing with his father to Gaul in the Western Roman Empire, he was eventually named Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. The Nicene Creed is a symbol of faith used in Christian worship. Constantine the Great. 's' : ''}}. Constantine is the first Christian Roman emperor in history. A second basis for Constantine's 'greatness' comes from his creation of a city that bore his name. History of the Franks, Book II by Gregory of Tours shows how the power of Christianity, Emperor Constantine declared Christianity and its church legal status in the Roman Empire. Constantine was a military tribune in the Roman army by 293, [1] the year his father became caesar (a junior Roman emperor) on 23 March. He made Christianity a lawful religion in Roman society, and he founded the city of Constantinople (now Istanbul), the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. Two separate accounts of Constantines conversion survive in works written by Constantines contemporaries. By doing so, he profoundly influenced world history. Here, several Christian officials debated the divine status of Jesus. The Arch of Constantine in Rome. S prawled on a throne, sword in hand, the statue of Constantine the Great is a familiar fixture outside York Minster. Also known as: Constantine the Great, Constantine I, Saint Constantine. Constantine was educated in Greek and Latin. 7 chapters | In 313, he issued the Edict of Milan, which legalized Christianity and allowed all religions to worship freely in the Roman Empire. Two important events marked his reign. Both of these events would serve to have a major impact on the man. He also pursued social, military and financial reforms to strengthen the empire. Shortly after Constantine's birth, his father was promoted to deputy emperor and sent to serve under the Emperor in the West. He had a rough childhood, mostly because his dad left Helena, Constantine's mom, and Constantine at a very young age. Sustainable Seafood: Can Your Dining Choices Help Protect the Ocean? Photo by Adrian Pingstone. He was an ancient Roman ruler (emperor) who reigned from 306-337 AD. He also restored some of the losses that the religion had undergone during its time of oppression. What Are Roberts Rules of Order for Meetings? After strengthening his hold over Spain, Gaul, and Britain, Constantine set to work on building roads, buildings, and other essentials. How was Queen Elizabeth II brought up as a child? Constantine the Great is known for two major achievements that he accomplished in his time as emperor of Rome. Worldhistoryedu is not responsible for the content of external sites. It is believed that during this point in time, Galerius made several significant attempts on the life of Constantine. Before being summoned back to the west to battle alongside his father in Britain, he began his career by conducting campaigns in the eastern provinces (against barbarians and the . Under the rule of Justinian, many historians would make the argument that With this new legal status, the religion was free to move about the entire Roman Empire without any real barriers., Saint Pauls conversion from persecutor of Christians to spearheading the call to God that was before unheard of therefore he is considered the second most important person in Christianity.(Yarbrough, 2016) 18 mm, 2.40 g. ref: RIC VII Trier 449. 0317-03-01 Crispus and Constantine II . Protecting the Amur Leopard: Earths Rarest Cat, How Climate Change Will Impact Your Local Rainfall Totals, How Hummingbird Trackers Map Hummingbird Migration Patterns, 5 Deserted Islands, Interesting Facts & Climate Change Effects, How to Remove Unwanted Programs From Your Computer. However, the classic account of Constantines conversion is documented in the Life of Constantine written shortly after the emperors death by his older contemporary Eusebius, a long while after from the emperor himself who states that he heard the recount, from the emperor himself (Drake, 2006)., At the fall of the Roman Empire, one king of the Franks, Clovis, sought to unite all of the barbaric tribes and create a new empire. Constantine I, often known as Constantine the Great, was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. By far, the creation of the city was his greatest accomplishment in this particular area of interest. Underneath were written the Greek words en toutoi nika, "In this sign, conquer." Constantine I, known as Constantine the Great or just Constantine, born Flavius Valerius Constantinus, was Roman emperor, reigning from 306 to 337. Your email address will not be published. Firstly, he accepted the religion and curtailed the persecution of Christians across the empire ("Constantine the Great Rules"). During his reign, he accomplished many things. Emperor realised his mistake and had her boiled alive. He also saw the persecution of Diocletian during his time with the army. One of the most well-known emperors was Constantine I, known also as Constantine the Great. His 'conversion' - historians debate the sincerity of this - came before he battled a fellow Roman ruler for power, Maxentius, at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 CE. Emperor Marcus Aurelius today is remembered for his 3 great accomplishments. The Life and Major Accomplishments of Ronald Reagan. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Born in Naissus, Dacia Mediterranea (now Ni, Serbia), he was the son of Flavius Constantius, a Roman army officer of Illyrian origin who had . Musei Capitolini, Rome. Emperor Tiberius. Constantine I the Great, 307-337 AD. He was the first Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity and played a crucial role in the spread of the religion. After growing up in a privileged-but-restrained home, which included a fine education, Constantine made his way into the Roman army. View results. Both spring out of a period known as the Crisis of the Third Century, the unstable period from the death of Alexander Severus and the end of the Severan Dynasty in 235, and the ascension of Diocletian in 284. Constantine continued the work of Diocletian, who divided up the Roman Empire into four 'tetrarchies' in the fourth century CE in order to more efficiently govern and defend it. As the emperor of the Byzantine Empire, Justinian accomplished a great deal, over the course of a reign that extended from 527, all the way up to 565. Constantine: Directed by Tim Dunn. With John Savage, Andrew James Allen, Randy Vasquez, Colby Chester. Constantine the Great began the process that transformed the Roman Empire into a Christian state, as he became a Christian himself. 2 Constantine the Great, also known as Flavius Valerius Constantinus, was born in what is now Nisch in Servia, to a Roman officer. This sculpture of Roman Emperor Constantine was created by the Baroque artist Bernini. He refused her advances. It stands to reason that the greatest accomplishment of Constantine was the construction of the extraordinary city known as Constantinople. Thus, so-called Christianity became "the strongest social and political agent" ever to influence the course . Who was Dido, Queen & Founder of Carthage? Diocletian's previous emperor decided to split the empire into two parts since it was too large to be ruled by one person, creating a tetrarchy or the rule of four. Indeed, Constantine continued some of these reforms, such as keeping the borders safe and changes to Roman coinage. Constantine I (Flavius Valerius Constantinus) was Roman emperor from 306-337 CE and is known to history as Constantine the Great for his conversion to Christianity in 312 CE and his subsequent Christianization of the Roman Empire. Best known for: Being the first Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity and establishing the city of Constantinople. By Mid-October 312 the road to Rome lay open. He was also known as the first Christian Roman Emperor. All Rights Reserved. Create your account. Emperor Diocletian voluntarily abdicated to live the simple life of a farmer on his country estate . He embraced this previously persecuted religion and set it on a path that led to the formation of Christendom. It was during his time with the Roman army that Constantine witnessed the horrors of Christian persecution. During these 49 ye {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}}, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, The Early Roman Empire and the Reign of Augustus Caesar, Mark Antony of Rome: Biography, Facts & Death, What was Cleopatra? 1. What were some achievements if emperor Constantine XI? 0:00. His birth name was Saul and was born in the city of Tarsus, which was a Roman province of Cilia, located in modern day south-eastern Turkey. Required fields are marked *. Constantine was the first Christian emperor of the Roman Empire . 0312-10-27 Roman Emperor Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross. Under Constantine's rule, there was much construction in the city, including a palace for the residence of the emperor, and even a hippodrome for chariot races. Constantine I is one of the more well-known emperors in the history of the Roman Empire. Constantine chose Troy first, says historian Sozomen. This city was located in the Dardania province of the Roman Empire which was then part of the Moesia province in today's Balkan region of Eastern Europe. She accused him of making advances. Fausta (2nd wife of Roman Emperor Constantine) fell in love with the Emperor's son. The ruler is depicted here as awed by the vision of a cross . However, as you learn more about this remarkable figure, youre going to discover that over the course of his life and rule, he accomplished a great deal. Diocletian ruled the east from Nicomedia as an " Augustus, " with Galerius as his " caesar. As time went on, he became increasingly powerful. There are no considerable distinctions between the two recounts, as both detail Constantine seeking the divine for answers to a military conquest. 5. No doubt many western historians bestow 'greatness' on Constantine because he actively supported Christianity, even though he may have not been a true convert until his death. Fausta was later rumoured to have had an affair with a slave. Constantine the Great - the first Roman Emperor to endorse Christianity. Furthermore, in the fourth century, the eastern Empire was more wealthy, and Constantinople was a strong economic city. Constantine spent his early life held captive in the East (away from his father in the West) by the senior emperor Augustus Diocletian (a great persecutor of Christians). At least one scholar, Peter Sarris, writes that Constantine actually favored Christianity more once he settled his power in the eastern part of the Empire. Constantine the Great, born as Flavius Valerius Constantinus became known as a Saint to the Christians when he legalized the Christian faith and ceased their persecutions. 2016). Whether or not he personally believed in Christian doctrine throughout his life, Constantine no doubt actively supported the faith. Constantine did end up winning and out of respect or maybe obligation he gave them legal status. To stabilize the economy, he introduced the solidus, a gold coin that remained in use for a thousand years. Constantine I is one of the more well-known emperors in the history of the Roman Empire. Over the course of the next several years, he would distinguish himself as a warrior and leader of note. Constantine won the battle. Constantine's mother, Helena, was a Greek . In his attempt to create a 'New Rome,' Constantine created a whole city stamped by his ego. IN 312 CE Constantine defeated Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and became ruler of both Eastern and Western empires. The accomplishments of Augustus far outweigh Constantines dream. He was born in a city in modern-day Serbia Constantine I, also known as "Constantine the Great," was born on February 27, 272 A.D. in a city called Naissus. (Online.infobase.com. - History, Biography & Facts, Emperor Hadrian of Rome: Facts, Biography & Accomplishments, The Roman Emperor Claudius: Facts & Achievements, The Five Good Emperors of Rome & the Nervan-Antonine Dynasty, Division of the Roman Empire: Diocletian & the 3rd Century Crisis. His greatness rests on three pillars: his support of Christianity, his creation of the city of Constantinople, and his continuation of Diocletian's reforms in the Roman Empire. This is historically important, because the Nicene Creed was the expression of the New Testament before the books were published., Augustus and Constantine, both great men, changed the nature of Rome. Twelve years later, he conquered the Eastern Roman Empire and ruled as emperor over a unified Roman Empire. This impact would later be fully realized during his rule of the Roman empire. However, Constantius' reign lasted only one year. Milan, Brescia, Verona (where the praetorian prefect was killed), Modena and Aguileia fell. Indeed, this was probably a main driving force behind many of his actions: to keep the Roman Empire together, which did at least, for a time, help out, as noted by scholars Jo Moran Cruz and Richard Gerberding. He gave vast amounts of money from his own personal treasury to the churches of God, for the enlarging and heightening of their sacred buildings and for decorating the sanctuaries of the church (Christian History Institute, 1). His sons fought one another, with Constantius II winning this fraternal fighting. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. He states that in Gaul, before setting out towards Rome, Constantine and his army saw a great cross in the sky. Facts About Constantine The Great 1. Born: February 27, 272 AD in Naissus, Serbia. In this lesson, we will learn about these accomplishments, including his legalization of Christianity, his founding of Constantinople, and his reforms of Diocletian to keep the Roman Empire together. Read about Constantine XI in the link provided. His own devotion to the religion came during the civil wars. Immediately acclaimed emperor by the army, Constantine then threw himself into a complex series of civil wars in which Maxentius, the son of Maximian, rebelled at Rome; with his father's help, Maxentius suppressed Severus, who had been proclaimed Western emperor by Galerius and who was then replaced by Licinius. Born Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus, Constantine the Great (also known as Constantine I) was born in 272 C.E. In AD 326, he had his first child Crispus (from his first marriage) executed. How the persecution of the Christians ended and the world was changed forever by the hand of one man - Constantine the Great. He is frequently called "the Great" because of his successes as a general, administrator, and legislator and because of his support of the Christian Church and efforts to maintain Christian unity. Equal to the Apostles Emperor Saint Constantine the Great ( February 27, 272- May 22, 337) was proclaimed Augustus by his troops on July 25, 306 and ruled an ever-growing portion of the Roman Empire to his death. He likewise had his second spouse Fausta killed. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. His public actions and policies, however, were not entirely without ambiguity. According to Eusebius of Caesarea, a bishop and biographer of Constantine, the future emperor claimed he witnessed a cross in the sky with the words in hoc signo vinces, meaning 'By this conquer,' next to it. Constantine, it should be noted, went beyond Diocletian concerning leadership. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University and University of Missouri.Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout, Merlot II, OER Commons and School Library Journal.Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. Constantine the Great was one of the strongest and most important rulers in the Byzantine and Roman Empire. Bronze follis, struck 322-325 AD. [2] Constantius and the other caesar Galerius each became augustus (a more senior Roman emperor) on 1 May 305. After Diocletian's death Maxentius and Constantine plunged the empire into another civil war. [3] [2] On that day, the emperors Diocletian and Maximian retired. The first is by Lactantius, a tutor to Constantine's son and a good authority. #CR2658: $125. Constantine I (ca. Constantine's motivations for converting and terminating the persecution of Christians are . Eusebius's biography, at best a panegyric . What motivated Constantine the Great to legalize Christianity?, Though Constantine proclaimed himself as the ruler of all Romans, it was evident that there was favoritism towards Christianity, which could be seen through the restrictions that were implemented on pagan practices. One of Constantine's greatest accomplishments as ruler was his acceptance of Christianity both as on an individual and on a national level. Joshua teaches pre-modern World History and has a Master of Arts degree in History. | {{course.flashcardSetCount}} The emperor Constantine has rightly been called the most important emperor of Late Antiquity. Founding his capital at Constantinople, Constantine revitalized the Eastern half of the empire, enabling it to survive and to flourish (as the Byzantine Empire) for another thousand years. Create an account to start this course today. His mother also advocated Christianity by spreading the religion and building churches. His powerful personality laid the foundations of post-classical European civilization; his reign was eventful and highly dramatic. copyright 2003-2022 Study.com. {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons Wikimedia Commons 2. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus ( February 27, 272 - May 22, 337 ), commonly known as Constantine I or Constantine the Great, was proclaimed Augustus by his troops on July 25, 306 and ruled an ever-growing portion of the Roman Empire to his death. With co-Emperor Licinius, he issued the Edict of Milan in 313, which proclaimed tolerance of all religions throughout the empire. In the bishop's view, the kingdom of God had been established with the advent of this emperora view that was further developed by subsequent generations of church historians. In 313 AD Christianity as it had been known in the earlier centuries became forever changed. The Boston Massacre: The American Revolution, Agrippina the Elder History, Family & Marriage, 14 Major Ancient Roman Gods and Goddesses, Colosseum History, Construction & Other Notable Facts. He began to conquer additional lands, strengthening his reserves to an even greater degree. The emperor became a great patron of the Church and set a precedent for . While a common practice at the time, this act has surely led some scholars to question his sincerity towards Christian belief. Eventually, he took Rome, and became Emperor to the entire empire. Constantine I (Latin: Flavius Valerius Constantinus; Greek: Konstantinos; 27 February c. 272 - 22 May 337), also known as Constantine the Great, was Roman emperor from AD 306 to 337, and the first to convert to Christianity. In 325, Constantine called and presided over the Council of Nicaea, which would prove monumental in the history of the faith. One accomplishment of this council was the creation of the first part of the Nicene Creed. Second, Marcus Aurelius was an expert of imperial administration helping to improve the efficiency of the Empire. So he builds the capital Constantinople, calling it the "New Rome". All rights reserved. Constantine waited until he was on his deathbed to receive baptism into the faith. He built a number of impressive structures, over the course of his life. Constantine, whose full name was Flavius Valerius Constantinus, was born on February 27, circa 280 AD in the city of Naissus, (modern-day Nis, Serbia). Constantine the Great (27 Feb c. 272/273 - 22 May 337) Constantine was Roman Emperor (A.D. 306-337). Constantine was The Great for many reasons: he united again Roman empire after the series of the civil wars he made Second Rome- Constantinople, new capital city of the Empire today known as Istanbul he announced with this ally Licinius act of tolerance towards Christians named Edict of Milan I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. - Biography & Death, Marcus Aurelius: Contributions & Accomplishments, Marcus Aurelius: Quotes, Writing & Speeches, Roman Emperor Caligula: Biography, Facts & Quotes, Roman Emperor Nero: Biography, Facts & Quotes, Roman Emperor Vespasian: Biography, Facts & Quotes, Vespasian: Reign, Leadership Style & Achievements, Emperor Domitian: Biography, Facts & Achievements, Roman Emperor Nerva: Biography, Facts & Accomplishments, Antoninus Pius: Facts, Quotes & Accomplishments, Who Was Commodus? - Facts, Quotes & Accomplishments, Septimius Severus: Quotes & Accomplishments, Constantine the Great: Accomplishments & Quotes, SAT Subject Test US History: Tutoring Solution, CLEP Western Civilization I: Study Guide & Test Prep, High School US History: Homework Help Resource, High School US History: Tutoring Solution, NY Regents Exam - US History and Government: Help and Review, NY Regents Exam - Global History and Geography: Tutoring Solution, NY Regents Exam - US History and Government: Tutoring Solution, SAT Subject Test US History: Practice and Study Guide, The First Hundred Days: Definition & History, The Battle of Iwo Jima in WW2: Facts & Casualties, The Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1946, Interstate Highway Act of 1956: Definition & Overview, The 1955 Dodge La Femme: Creation & Significance, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. They settled on what would become the basis of Christian teaching about Jesus' divinity, the Trinity. Constantine the Great. Another achievement would be that he became a Roman emperor where he . The Origins of Constantine.