Constantine, Emperor

Constantine, Emperor (c. 285–337 C.E.) Roman emperor who supported Christianity Constantine's father Constantius was emperor of the western half of the Roman empire. When he died in 306, his troops declared Constantine emperor in his place. Constantine was then about 20 years old. Through battles and political maneuvers, Constantine managed to keep his position. In 324 he became sole emperor of the Roman empire. He ruled until his death in 337. Constantine attributed his success to CHRISTIANITY, to which he converted around the year 310. In 312 he defeated a rival at the Milvian Bridge, which is near Rome. In the battle his troops fought with a sign of Christianity painted on their shields. The next year Constantine and his coruler issued the Edict of Milan, which removed all laws against the practice of Christianity, making Christianity fully legal in the Roman empire for the fi rst time. Constantine also tried to mediate disputes between Christians. One concerned Donatism, or the idea that PRIESTS and bishops who abandon Christianity under persecution should not be allowed to resume their positions later. Even more important was the dispute about Arianism. It concerned whether JESUS, as Son of God, was uncreated or the fi rst-born of all creation. To try to resolve this dispute, Constantine called bishops together at the Council of Nicaea in 325 (see COUNCILS, CHRISTIAN). The Council's decision became the basis for the later Nicene Creed (see CREEDS). Constantine built a new capital for the empire and named it Constantinople after himself (now Istanbul, Turkey). He also sponsored the building of many churches. He was not baptized until he was on his deathbed. Because of all that he had done for Christianity, he thought of himself as the Thirteenth Apostle.