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{{Rome}}'''Constantine''' was a [[Rome|Roman]] [[Emperor]] famous for being the first Christian Emperor of Rome, and increasing the legalizing of [[Christianity]].  He lived AD February 27, 272 - May 22, 337.

{{Rome}}'''Constantine''' was a [[Rome|Roman]] [[Emperor]] famous for being the first Christian Emperor of Rome, and increasing the legalizing of [[Christianity]].  He lived AD February 27, 272 - May 22, 337.

Although he is often held up by the [[Church]] as the ideal religious [[King]], ruling at the will of the just [[God]], Constantine's character is in fact much more complicated.  Constantine is well-known to have considered many different religions, resorting to Christianity only in the run-up to his climactic victory at the [[Battle of the Milvian Bridge]] in 312 AD, after which Constantine became the sole "[[Augustus]]" - in [[Diocletian]]'s tetrarchy system - of Rome (the west).  [[Lucinius]] was still Augustus of the east.  At this battle, Constantine is said to have seen in the sky the [[Chi Ro]], an early Christian symbol, which the [[Latin]] words "IN HOC SIGNO VINCES," or, "under this sign shall you conquer."  Constantine allegedly then ordered all of his troops to paint the Chi Ro on their shields.  He won a crushing victory ending his civil war with Maxentius when Maxentius drowned trying to escape.  He attributed his victory to Christianity.

Although he is often held up by the [[Church]] as the ideal religious [[King]], ruling at the will of the just [[God]], Constantine's character is in fact much more complicated.  Constantine is well-known to have considered many different religions, resorting to Christianity only in the run-up to his climactic victory at the [[Battle of the Milvian Bridge]] in 312 AD, after which Constantine became the sole "[[Augustus]]" - in [[Diocletian]]'s tetrarchy system - of Rome (the west).  [[Lucinius]] was still Augustus of the east.  At this battle, according to legend, Constantine is said to have seen in the sky the [[Chi Ro]], an early Christian symbol, which the [[Latin]] words "IN HOC SIGNO VINCES," or, "under this sign shall you conquer."  Constantine allegedly then ordered all of his troops to paint the Chi Ro on their shields.  He won a crushing victory ending his civil war with Maxentius when Maxentius drowned trying to escape.  He attributed his victory to Christianity and thus converted, although no written account by Constantine himself of this event remain.  

In the next year Constantine put forth the [[Edict of Milan]] guaranteeing religious freedom to Christians after almost 300 years of persecution.  Constantine was engaged in a smoldering conflict with Lucinius, still Augustus of the east starting in 314.  Tensions became worse when Lucinius again started persecuting Christians in 320 and led to all out civil war in 324, which ended with Lucinius' surrender and execution.  Constantine was then sole ruler of the Roman empire, and remained so until his death.  [[Constantinople]] was named after him, a city he spent many years in building to be the new Capital in the East.

In the next year Constantine put forth the [[Edict of Milan]] guaranteeing religious freedom to Christians after almost 300 years of persecution.  Constantine was engaged in a smoldering conflict with Lucinius, still Augustus of the east starting in 314.  Tensions became worse when Lucinius again started persecuting Christians in 320 and led to all out civil war in 324, which ended with Lucinius' surrender and execution.  Constantine was then sole ruler of the Roman empire, and remained so until his death.  [[Constantinople]] was named after him, a city he spent many years in building to be the new Capital in the East.