Back Konstantyn die Grote AF Konstantin der Große ALS ቆስጠንጢኖስ AM Constantín I AN قسطنطين العظيم Arabic قنسطنطين الاول ARZ Constantín I AST I Konstantin AZ بیرینجی کونستانتین AZB Бөйөк Константин I BA
| Constantine the Great | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Head of the Colossus of Constantine, Capitoline Museums | |||||||||
| Roman emperor | |||||||||
| Reign | 25 July 306 – 22 May 337 (alone from 19 September 324) | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Constantius I (in the West) | ||||||||
| Successor | |||||||||
| Co-rulers | |||||||||
| Born | Flavius Constantinus 27 February c. 272[1] Naissus, Moesia, Roman Empire[2] | ||||||||
| Died | 22 May 337 (aged 65) Achyron, Nicomedia, Bithynia, Roman Empire | ||||||||
| Burial | Originally the Church of the Holy Apostles, Constantinople, but Constantius II had the body moved | ||||||||
| Spouse | |||||||||
| Issue Detail | |||||||||
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| Greek | Κωνσταντῖνος | ||||||||
| Dynasty | Constantinian | ||||||||
| Father | Constantius Chlorus | ||||||||
| Mother | Helena | ||||||||
| Religion |
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Constantine I (27 February 272 – 22 May 337 AD) was a Roman emperor from 306 until he died. He was emperor for longer than any other emperor since Augustus, the first emperor. He was the first ruler of the Roman Empire to be a Christian. He made the old city Byzantium into a new, larger city: Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey). The city's name means "City of Constantine" in Greek. He was the son of the emperor Constantius I, and members of their Constantinian dynasty controlled the empire until 364.
Six years after Constantine became Emperor, he had to fight a civil war with his rival Maxentius. A major battle of this war was was the Battle of Milvian Bridge, (which is a bridge over the Tiber River.) It is believed that before the battle, Constantine saw a cross in the sky with the words Latin: in hoc signo vinces, lit. 'in this sign you shall conquer'. Because of this, he ordered his soldiers to draw Christian symbols on their shields. Constantine went on to win the battle and later on won the war.
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- ↑ Birth dates vary, but most modern historians use "c. 272". Lenski, "Reign of Constantine" (CC), 59.
- ↑ "Constantine I | Biography, Accomplishments, Death, & Facts". Encyclopaedia Britannica Online. 25 May 2023.