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Constantine was a Roman Emperor famous for legalizing Christianity.  He lived AD February 27, 272- May 22, 337.

{{Rome}}Constantine was a Roman Emperor famous for legalizing 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, after which Constantine became the sole "Augustus" - in Diocletian's tetrarchy system - of Rome.  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, to which he attributes his victory.

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, after which Constantine became the sole "Augustus" - in Diocletian's tetrarchy system - of Rome.  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, to which he attributes his victory.