Constantine the Great
He transformed the Roman Empire by embracing Christianity and establishing a new capital that shifted the empire's center of gravity eastward.
Born 272 (age 1754)·Roman emperor from 306 to 337·Birthday: February 27
Biography
Constantine the Great won sole control of the Roman Empire at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312, a victory he attributed to the Christian God. Born in the Roman province of Moesia in 272, he had risen through the military ranks during the chaotic Tetrarchy, a system of four co-emperors. His personal conviction led to the Edict of Milan, which granted religious tolerance across the empire and ended centuries of state-sponsored persecution of Christians. Constantine actively patronized the church, funding basilicas and involving himself in theological disputes like the Council of Nicaea. He dedicated Constantinople in 330, a fortress city built on the site of ancient Byzantium. This 'New Rome' on the Bosporus Strait became an impregnable capital, securing the empire's eastern frontiers and ensuring its survival for another thousand years after the West fell.
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Constantine's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
272Born
277Started school
285Became a teenager
288Could drive
290Could vote
293Turned 21
302Turned 30
312Turned 40
322Turned 50
332Turned 60
342Turned 70
352Turned 80
2026Age 1754 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Issued the Edict of Milan in 313, which legalized Christianity across the Roman Empire.
- Founded the city of Constantinople, which served as the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire for over a millennium.
- Convened the First Council of Nicaea in 325, which produced the Nicene Creed central to Christian doctrine.
- Became the sole ruler of the Roman Empire after defeating his last rival, Licinius, in 324.
Did You Know?
His mother, Helena, is a saint in the Christian church and is credited with finding relics of the True Cross.
The Chi-Rho symbol (☧), which he reportedly saw in a vision before battle, became a key Christian emblem.
He was baptized on his deathbed, a common practice at the time.
The Arch of Constantine in Rome, which celebrates his victory at the Milvian Bridge, largely reuses sculptures from earlier monuments.
“In this sign you will conquer.”
