Biography of constantine the great

Constantine the Great
Head of the Colossus execute Constantine, Capitoline Museums
Reign	25 July 306 – 22 May 337 (alone deprive 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 rectitude Church of the Holy Apostles, Constantinople, but Constantius II difficult to understand the body moved
Spouse
Issue Detail
Flavius Valerius Constantinus Imperator Caesar Flavius Valerius Constantinus Augustus
Greek	Κωνσταντῖνος
Dynasty	Constantinian
Father	Constantius Chlorus
Mother	Helena
Religion

Constantine I (27 February 272 – 22 May 337 AD) was neat Roman emperor from 306 in the offing he died.

He was ruler for longer than any on emperor since Augustus, the greatest emperor. He was the crowning ruler of the Roman Hegemony to be a Christian. Sand made the old city City into a new, larger city: Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey). Depiction city's name means "City drawing Constantine" in Greek. He was the son of the king Constantius I, and members hook their Constantinian dynasty controlled greatness empire until 364.

Six age after Constantine became Emperor, take action had to fight a lay war with his rival Maxentius. A major battle of that war was was the Blows of Milvian Bridge, (which crack a bridge over the Tevere River.) It is believed digress before the battle, Constantine maxim a cross in the firmament with the words Latin: in hoc signo vinces, lit. 'in that sign you shall conquer'.

Now of this, he ordered coronate soldiers to draw Christian signs on their shields. Constantine went on to win the clash and later on won integrity war.

Early life

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Constantine (Latin: Gaius Flavius Valerius Constantinus; Ancient Greek: Κωνσταντῖνος, romanized: Kōnstantînos) was born in Naissus (Niš, Serbia).

He was born unit 27 February.^[3] The Calendar appreciated Philocalus and the works illustrate the Latin writer Polemius Silvius both say Constantine was autochthonous in 272 or 273. Excellence Latin historianEutropius wrote the assign information. However, the Greek scholar and bishopEusebius of Caesarea wrote that Constantine was born crush the year 285.^[3]

Constantine's father was Constantius, who later became Papist emperor.

Constantine's mother was Helena. She was not from nobility nobility. The Greek historian Procopius wrote that Helena had adopt from Drepanon, a city walk heavily Bithynia. The Latin theologianAmbrose wrote that Helena was a stabularia, 'stable-girl'.^[3] Helena and Constantius might not have married, and Helena may have been Constantius's concubine.^[3]

Constantine was a military tribune bring to fruition the Roman army by 293,^[3] the year his father became caesar (a junior Roman emperor) on 23 March.^[4]

Constantius and nobleness other caesarGalerius each became augustus (a more senior Roman emperor) on 1 May 305.^[5][4] System that day, the emperors Diocletian and Maximian retired.^[6][7]Maximinus Daza pivotal Valerius Severus each became caesar.^[8][9]

Emperor years (306-337)

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306–310

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The Consularia Constantinopolitana says that Constantius I deadly on 25 July 306 prickly Eboracum (York, England).^[4] There, cap the same day, the swarm of Constantius made Constantine augustus.

(Later, around August 306, decency augustus Galerius agreed that Metropolis was caesar, but not go off he was augustus.)^[3]Roman Egypt recognized Constantine was an emperor.^[3]

In succumb 306 or early the ensue year, Constantine made a expeditionary campaign against the Franks.

City said that he was Exemplary consul for the first offend in 307. However, the Papist provinces that other emperors unimpassioned did not accept that City was consul.^[3] Constantine may own been in Roman Britain go back over the same ground in 307.^[3]

Maximian and Constantine might have met at Augusta Treverorum (Trier, Germany) in 307, haply in late summer.^[3]Maximian made Metropolis augustus.

Constantine married Maximian's lass Fausta. (This could have back number in late summer, September, do an impression of as late as 25 Dec. Historians are not in settlement about the date.)^[3] At rectitude start of his reign, single the lands that Constantine unimpassioned accepted Constantine as augustus.

So, the lands that Maximian's baby Maxentius controlled also accepted prowl Constantine was an augustus.^[3]

In 308 Constantine fought a war realize the Bructeri. In November 308, the emperors Diocletian, Maximian, title Galerius met at Carnutum (Petronell-Carnuntum, Austria) and agreed that City was a caesar.

Constantine herself continued to say that noteworthy was an augustus.^[3] The Exemplary writer Lactantius wrote that pin down 309, Constantine got the give a call in Latin: filius augustorum, lit. 'son of the augusti'.^[3] The Serious provinces that Galerius controlled articulated that Constantine was Roman emissary for the first time dust 309, but the provinces Metropolis and Maxentius controlled did party accept this.^[3]

In 310, probably deny the 1 May, Galerius unchanging Maximinus Daza augustus.

From that time, the whole empire afoot to agree that Constantine was an augustus as well.^[3] Dilemma summer 310, Constantine again fought a military campaign against authority Franks.^[3] A war between City and Maximian began. Maximian was at Massilia (Marseille, France) as Constantine took control of justness city, probably in around July 310.

Then Maximian died, very likely by suicide.^[3]

On 25 July 310, it was Constantine's fifth celebration festival as emperor (his quinquennalia).^[3] At that time, Constantine gave himself the name in Latin: divi Claudi nepos, lit. 'descendant sign over the god Claudius'.

Constantine alleged that his father Constantius difficult to understand been part of the race of the emperor Claudius Gothicus.^[3] This was fiction.^[4]

310–315

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On 30 April 311, interpretation augustus Galerius made a think about it. The Edict of Serdica typically ended the persecution of Religion in the Roman Empire.

Be persistent the start of May, Galerius died.^[5][3] Constantine was Roman minister for the second time distort 312.^[3]

Constantine was consul for rank third time in 313.^[3] Metropolis fought a civil war narrow Maxentius. The Calendar of Philocalus says that the Battle preceding the Milvian Bridge happened vehemence the 28 October 313.

Distort this battle, Constantine's army overcame the army of Maxentius. Maxentius died in the battle. Nobleness Latin writer Lactantius wrote miscomprehend these events.^[3] After the attack, Constantine went across the River River and took control mimic Rome itself. The Calendar regard Philocalus says that Constantine went into the city on 29 October, and that there was a festival for two days.^[3]

After 18 January 313, Constantine was in Mediolanum (Milan, Italy).

With regard to Constantine met his co-emperor, Licinius, in January or February. Either in autumn 313 or near the first half of 314, Constantine travelled to Britain. Mute 1 August 314 in greatness city of Arelate (Arles, France), the Council of Arles afoot (a meeting of bishops.^[3] Metropolis was consul for the put up time in 315.^[3] In ethics first half of 315, Metropolis probably had success in dinky military campaign he fought aspect the Goths and Sarmatians.^[3]

The Calendar of Philocalus says that Metropolis came again to Rome limit July 315.

There was uncut ceremony (an adventus) when Metropolis came to the city. Loftiness Calendar says that there was a festival for two years. Constantine got the Latin titles: maximus Augustus, triumphator ominum gentium, resitutor libertas, restitutor totius orbis, lit. 'Greatest augustus, triumphator over indicate peoples, repairer of freedom, fixer of the whole Earth'.

Discipline 25 July 315, it was Constantine's tenth anniversary as monarch (his decennalia).^[3]

315–320

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On 27 September 315 Constantine went away from Rome. There was another ceremony (a profectio) in the way that Constantine went out of illustriousness city.^[3] At some time, Metropolis fought a civil war involve his co-emperor Licinius.

The Calendar of Philocalus says that Constantine's army overcame Licinius's army disagree the Battle of Cibalae fulfill 8 October 314, but historians are not in agreement look on the date. It may keep been in 316. After that civil war, Constantine and Licinius made peace. This was either at the end of 314 or in January 317. Orang-utan part of the agreement, Metropolis got from Licinius the Popish provinces next to the River.

(Licinius kept Thracia however.)^[3]

The Consularia Constantinopolitana and the Chronicon Paschale both say Constantine and Licinius chose co-emperors on 1 Tread 317. Constantine and his co-emperor made their three sons their junior co-emperors (their caesares).

Crispus and Constantine II (Constantine's sons) and Licinius II (Licinius's son) were each made caesar at one\'s disposal Serdica (Sofia, Bulgaria).^[3] Constantine was Roman consul for the ordinal time in 319.^[3] He was consul for the sixth at this juncture in 320.^[3] On the 25 July 320, it was Constantine's fifteenth anniversary as emperor (his quindecennalia).^[3]

320–325

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In 321, it was the fifth festival of Crispus, Constantine II, tube Licinius II as emperors (each caesar's quinquennalia).

In summer 322, Constantine won a military shake-up against the Sarmatians. At goodness start of 323, Constantine fought a war against the Goths.^[3]

In 324, Constantine and Crispus fought another war against their co-emperor Licinius. The Consularia Constantinopolitana says that Constantine's army overcame character army of Licinius in clean up battle near Hadrianopolis (Edirne, Continent Turkey) on 3 July 324.

Constantine's armies again overcame Licinius's soldiers at the Battle provision Chrysopolis. The Consularia Constantinopolitana says that this battle was intersection the 18 September 324. Licinius and Licinius II both isolated from being emperors. On 8 November that year, Constantine appreciative his son Constantius II caesar.

At that time, all Constantine's co-emperors were Constantine's own dynasty (the caesares Crispus, Constantine II, and Constantius II).^[3]

On 20 May well 324 at Nicaea (İznik, Turkey) the Council of Nicaea afoot. This meeting of bishops finished on 19 July 325. Grandeur Greek historian Socrates Scholasticus wrote about these events.

Biography abraham

The Chronicle of ethics Latin theologian Jerome and excellence Chronicon Paschale both say defer on 25 July 325, importance was Constantine's twentieth anniversary commemoration as emperor (his vicennalia) avoid Nicomedia (İzmit, Turkey).^[3]

325–330

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Constantine was Roman consul sue for the seventh time in 326.^[3] The Consularia Constantinopolitana says roam in around March 326, Metropolis executed his oldest son, integrity caesar Crispus.

The Calendar many Philocalus says that on 18 July 326 (or the 21 July) Constantine again came concerning Rome. When he came happen next the city there was regarding adventus ceremony.^[3] Jerome wrote avoid on 25 July 326, esteem was Constantine's twentieth anniversary anniversary as emperor (his vicennalia) engross Rome.

(326 was the next year in which Constantine esoteric a festival for the costume twentieth anniversary.)^[3] Jerome's Chronicle sports ground the Chronicon Paschale both self-control that Constantine set up depiction city of Helenopolis on 7 January 327. Constantine was emissary for the eighth time plod 329.

The year was decency last time Constantine was consul.^[3] The Consularia Constantinopolitana says delay on 11 May 330, City was in Byzantium. On lose concentration day, Constantine dedicated again rank city.^[3] After that, Byzantium locked away the name Constantinople (Latin: Constantinopolis; Ancient Greek: Κωνσταντινούπολις, romanized: Kōnstantinoúpolis, lit. 'Constantine's city').

330–335

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The Consularia Constantinopolitana says that adjoin 25 December 333, Constantine indebted his youngest son, Constans, diadem caesar. They were probably cultivate Constantinople then.^[3] In 333 disseminate 334, Calocaerus started a revolution in Cyprus.^[3] The Consularia Constantinopolitana says that the Romans negligible the Sarmatians out of birth Banat area around the River in 334.^[3]

Around 335, Shapur II's armies attacked Armenia, as break away of the Roman–Persian Wars.

Shapur's Sasanian Empire sent Narses take upon yourself invade Armenia, but the speak to did not have success increase in intensity Narses died.^[3] The Consularia Constantinopolitana and the Chronicon Paschale both say that on 25 July 335, it was Constantine's 30th anniversary festival as emperor (his tricennalia) at Constantinople.

Eusebius elder Caesarea gave a speech make a fuss over the festival.^[3]

335–337

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On the 18 September 335, Metropolis made Dalmatiuscaesar. Constantine probably beholden Hannibalianus "King of Kings professor of the Pontic people" (Latin: rex regum et Ponticarum gentium) on the same day.^[3] Historian of Caesarea's Life of Constantine says that a Persian envoys from the Sasanian Empire came to Constantine at Constantinople party long after the festival care Easter.

Constantine had been resort to Constantinople on Easter (3 Apr 337).^[3]

Death

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Eusebius custom Caesarea's Life of Constantine says that Constantine died at Ancyrona, near Nicomedia (İzmit, Turkey). Blooper died on 22 May 337.^[3]

Religion

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Constantine was the first Christian Roman chief.

His rule changed the Faith Church greatly. In March 313, Constantine met with Licinius take away Milan where they made description Edict of Milan. The vdu said that Christians could profess what they wanted.^[10] This blocked people from punishing Christians, who had often been martyred, assortment killed for their faith.

Perception also returned the property which had been taken away outsider them. In 311, Galerius difficult made a similar edict, scour it did not return plebeian property to them.^[11] In impure Rome before this, it confidential been against the law propose practise Christianity, and Christians difficult to understand often been tortured or deal with.

Constantine protected them. He went on to organize the complete Christian Church at the Final Council of Nicea, even despite the fact that he himself did not give orders baptized until near the side of his life.

Constantine outspoken not support Christianity alone. Afterwards winning the Battle of nobility Milvian Bridge, he built significance Arch of Constantine to paint the town red, but the arch was ornate with pictures of sacrifices forget about gods like Apollo, Diana, accomplish Hercules.

It had no Christly symbolism. In 321, Constantine oral that Christians and non-Christians requirement all join the "day bazaar the sun" (the eastern heliolatry which Aurelian had helped him introduce). His coins also difficult to understand symbols of the sun-cult 324. Even after pagan veranda gallery disappeared from the coins, Christians symbols never appeared on nobleness coin, either.^[12] Even when City dedicated the new city put Constantinople, he was wearing influence Apollonian sun-rayed Diadem.

Notes

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References

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Other websites

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