Constantine
Constantine I (c. 27 February 272 – 22 May 337), also known as Constantine the Great, was a Roman emperor who ruled from 306 to 337, emerging victorious from civil wars to reunify the empire under his sole authority.[1] Born in Naissus (modern Niš) to Constantius Chlorus and Helena, he was proclaimed emperor by troops in York following his father's death, then defeated rivals including Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312, where accounts describe a vision prompting his adoption of the Christian symbol.[2] This event marked the beginning of his public favor toward Christianity, culminating in the Edict of Milan in 313, co-issued with Licinius to restore confiscated church property and grant tolerance to Christians after years of intermittent persecution.[3] Constantine's reign transformed the empire's religious landscape, as he convened the First Council of Nicaea in 325 to resolve the Arian controversy over Christ's divinity, producing the Nicene Creed that affirmed the consubstantiality of the Son with the Father—a doctrinal foundation enduring in orthodox Christianity.[4] He centralized imperial administration, reformed the currency with the solidus gold coin to stabilize the economy, and refounded Byzantium as Constantinople in 330, shifting the empire's focus eastward and laying groundwork for its survival as the Byzantine Empire after Rome's fall.[1] Despite these achievements, his rule included ruthless purges, such as the execution of his son Crispus and wife Fausta in 326 amid allegations of adultery and treason, raising questions about the depth of his Christian commitment versus pragmatic politics.[2] Baptized only on his deathbed by Eusebius of Nicomedia, Constantine's policies nonetheless elevated Christianity from a marginalized sect to the empire's favored faith, influencing Western civilization's religious trajectory.[5]People
Roman and Byzantine Emperors
Constantine I, also known as Constantine the Great (c. 272–337 CE), ruled as Roman emperor from 306 to 337 CE, initially as co-emperor with others before consolidating sole power after his victory over Licinius at the Battle of Chrysopolis in 324 CE.[6] Born Flavius Valerius Constantinus in Naissus (modern Niš, Serbia), he was the son of Constantius Chlorus, a Caesar under the Tetrarchy, and was proclaimed Augustus by troops in Eboracum (York, Britain) on 25 July 306 following his father's death there.[7] His reign marked a shift toward favoring Christianity, evidenced by the Edict of Milan in 313 CE, co-issued with Licinius, which granted religious tolerance and restored confiscated church property, drawing from primary accounts like Lactantius's De Mortibus Persecutorum.[8] Constantine convened the First Council of Nicaea in 325 CE to address Arianism, producing the Nicene Creed, though his personal baptism occurred only on his deathbed in 337 CE by Eusebius of Nicomedia, as recorded in Eusebius's Life of Constantine.[8] He refounded Byzantium as Constantinople in 330 CE, establishing it as the new eastern capital.[9] Constantine II (Flavius Claudius Constantinus, 316–340 CE), eldest son of Constantine I, was Caesar from 317 CE and Augustus from 337 CE, assigned the western provinces of Gaul, Hispania, and Britannia under the division among Constantine I's sons.[10] His rule ended in 340 CE when he invaded the territory of his brother Constans, leading to his death in battle near Aquileia.[10] In the Byzantine Empire, continuation of the eastern Roman state, several emperors bore the name Constantine, often as part of dynastic naming conventions:- Constantine III (Heraclius Constantine, reigned February–May 641 CE): Son of Heraclius, briefly co-emperor with his father from 641 CE before being overthrown and killed by partisans of his stepmother Martina.[11]
- Constantine IV (668–685 CE): Son of Constans II, he repelled the Arab siege of Constantinople (674–678 CE) using Greek fire and secured papal recognition of Byzantine authority at the Sixth Ecumenical Council in 680–681 CE, condemning Monothelitism.[11]
- Constantine V (741–775 CE): Known as Copronymus in hostile sources for alleged iconoclasm, he pursued military successes against Arabs and Bulgars, reconquering Syria and Armenia territories, though his iconoclastic policies sparked internal church conflicts.[12]
- Constantine VI (co-emperor 780–797 CE, sole 790–797 CE): Son of Leo IV, his regency under Irene ended in blinding and deposition amid iconophile restoration, marking the end of Isaurian dynasty.
- Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus (913–959 CE): Ruled as nominal emperor from 913 CE, effectively from 945 CE after Romanos II's regency; authored scholarly works like De Administrando Imperio on governance and diplomacy.[13]
- Constantine VIII (co-emperor 1025–1028 CE, nominal earlier): Younger brother of Basil II, held titular rule for over 60 years before brief sole reign marked by administrative continuity rather than innovation.[14]
- Constantine IX Monomachos (1042–1055 CE): Married Zoe to ascend; focused on court luxury amid military setbacks, including Norman invasions in Italy and Seljuk threats in Anatolia.[11]
- Constantine X Doukas (1059–1067 CE): Founder of Doukas dynasty, his fiscal policies weakened defenses, contributing to Manzikert precursors.[11]
- Constantine XI Palaiologos (1449–1453 CE): Last Byzantine emperor, fell defending Constantinople against Ottoman siege on 29 May 1453, dying in battle as the city was conquered by Mehmed II.[10]