Constantine the Great | Biography, Facts & History

The Origins of Constantine

Born Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus, Constantine the Great (also known as Constantine I) was born in 272 C.E. and became emperor of the Roman Empire in 306 C.E.

When Constantine first gained power, the Roman Empire was under a tetrarchy, or rule by four. The empire was administered by four officials. Under this system, Galerius controlled the Balkan provinces; Maximinus administered the area around and including Egypt; Severus controlled Italy, Spain, and Africa; and Constantius (Constantine's father) held Britain and Gaul. When Constantius died in 306 C.E., Constantine took over the title of emperor. Although Constantine was the first Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity, he did not legally impose that religion on the empire.

Family

Constantine was the son of Roman officer Flavius Valerius Constantius and a Christian woman named Helena. In 293 C.E. his father became the emperor of the western empire. Constantius sent his son east to serve in the military and learn the finer points of strategy. Constantine spent a great deal of time in the court of Emperor Diocletian before being declared emperor by Constantius' upon his death.

During his reign, Constantine was married twice. His first wife, Minervina, gave birth to a son, Crispus. Shortly thereafter, Constantine left Minervina for Fausta, because she had much stronger political ties than his first wife. Fausta gave birth to three sons (Constantine II, Constantius II, and Constans). In 326 C. E. Constantine had his son Crispus executed. Shortly thereafter, Fausta was forced to commit suicide. Although the reasons for these deaths remain uncertain, some historians believe that Crispus was having an affair with Fausta, his stepmother.

Constantine's Conversion

From 306 to 312 C.E., one of Constantine's co-rulers was Maxentius. Maxentius' hunger for more power led to his eventual invasion of Italy. He sought to oust Constantine from power and take over the empire. Constantine went on the offensive, invading Italy and soundly defeating Maxentius' northern forces. In one final, desperate move, Maxentius confronted Constantine's forces on the Milvian Bridge at the Tiber River.

Some ancient sources say that Constantine had a conversion experience before this battle when he saw the image of a Christian cross inscribed with the words 'in this conquer'. Maxentius was defeated and killed in the battle and Constantine rode into Rome triumphantly.

Despite this experience, Constantine did not receive the sacrament of baptism until the end of his life. He was also tolerant of the Christian religion as emperor. In 313 C.E. he agreed to the terms of the Edict of Milan, a document that gave Christians the freedom to practice their religion without persecution within the empire.