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Constantine I the Great 280-337
Constantine I, also called Constantine the Great, was the first
Roman emperor who called himself a Christian. Constantine's Latin name was
Flavius Valerius Constantinus.
The church declared him a Saint.
Some historians call him an evil man, who used religion merely as a means
to an end. Take your pick.
As Roman Emperor, Constantine became
ruler of a declining empire. Because of the massive persecution of
the Christians, Christianity was a sensitive political issue in his
days.
Hence,
Constantine completely re-defined the Christian faith by claiming
himself and his state to be Christian.
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In
1998, a bronze statue of Roman Emperor Constantine was erected in front of
York Minster Cathedral, where he was hailed as Caesar in AD 306.
The inscription reads, "By this sign conquer." |
Constantine I the Great - Facts
325 - Construction
on Hagia Sophia cathedral begins. It will be
finished under
 Justinian I
in 537.
330 -
Constantine renamed Byzantium Constantinople (modern Istanbul,
Turkey) and declared it, instead of Rome, the new capital and seat
of the
Empire. He suspended the Praetorian Guard, the famous bodyguards of
the emperors.
He decreed Sunday to be a day of rest.
He gained fame as the supporter of many religious building projects.
Constantine was infamous for his violent temper and was involved in
the murder of at least seven close friends and relatives.
He was very successful in the battles he fought. His military
strategy was well respected.
Constantine built a wall around
Constantinople, the location of which is shown on this map:
Constantinople's Wall by Constantine
Click map to enlarge
Constantine's Family
Constantine's father was
Flavius Valerius Constantius (Official title:
Constantius I Chlorus)
Constantine's mother was Helena.
Constantine's father
gave his wife the boot and, in 289 A.D., married another woman.
Constantine's siblings:
Six half-siblings by Flavia Maximiana Theodora, his
father's second wife
Constantine's spouses:
Minervina and Fausta
Constantine's children:
Crispus (by Minervina),
Constantius II,
Constantine II and Constans (by Fausta)
Arch of Constantine
Copyright Eldar
Kadymov
The Arch of Constantine in Rome was hastily built in
AD 312 to
commemorate Constantine's victory over throne rival
Maxentius
at the
Battle of the Milvian Bridge.
And here is
Constantine's timeline.
More History
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