Constantine is perhaps best known for being the first Christian Roman emperor. Constantine defeated the emperors Maxentius and Licinius during civil wars. He also fought successfully against the Franks, Alamanni, Visigoths, and Sarmatians during his reign. He transformed the ancient Greek colony of Byzantium into a new imperial residence, Constantinople, which would be the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire for over 1000 years.
Constantine played a crucial role in the development and spread of Christianity. Previously, it had been against the law to believe in Christianity, and Christians had often been tortured or killed. On the eve of a crucial battle, Constantine had a vision of a cross that appeared in the sky. He heard a voice declaring, ‘under this sign you will win’.
Constantine had his soldiers paint the cross on their shields-and they did win the battle! Constantine was impressed by the power of the Christian God, and he became a supporter of Christianity. He legally ended the persecution of Christians. Constantine’s embrace of Christianity eventually led him to be baptized in 337 AD.
