Constantine

Constantine the Great (c. 272–337 CE) was a Roman emperor whose reign marked a turning point in the history of the Roman Empire and the Christian church. Born Flavius Valerius Constantinus at Naissus (modern Niš, Serbia), he rose to power in the western provinces in 306 following his father’s death and ultimately became the sole ruler of a unified empire in 324 after defeating Licinius.

His reign featured significant political, military, and administrative changes. He pursued a policy of centralized authority, reorganizing the empire’s administration and military to strengthen imperial control. A defining religious shift occurred when he and Licinius issued the Edict of Milan in 313, granting religious toleration to Christians and ending state-sponsored persecution. Although he did not convert publicly to Christianity, Constantine favored the Christian church, supported clergy, and promoted its growth within the empire.

Constantine also played a key role in shaping Christian doctrine by convening the First Council of Nicaea in 325, which produced a creed intended to unify Christian belief and resolve theological disputes. His support helped establish Christianity as a legally recognized and increasingly influential force within the Roman state.

In 330, Constantine founded and designated Constantinople as the new eastern capital of the empire, shifting the political and cultural center eastward. This foundation boosted urban and administrative development in the Byzantine period, and the city endured as a major imperial hub for centuries.

Constantine died in 337 at Nicomedia, after which the empire was divided among his sons. His legacy lies in fostering a closer relationship between the imperial authority and the Christian church, shaping the religious and political landscape of late antiquity.