Constantine

Constantine was well known as the first emperor that supported Christianity. He is also known as Constantine the Great. He was born to Constantius Chlorus, a Roman general on 272 in Serbia. Constantine began his carrier in charge of Britain, Gaul and Spain. He was in charge of this part of the empire from 306 to 316. He guarded the Rhine during this time from the Germans. During his time ruling his part of the empire he met Licinius at Milan, and married her on 313.

An important part in Constantine's life was the battle of Milvian Bridge. The battle happened on October 28, 312. Constantine fought with Maxentius because they both wanted to be emperors. This battle didn't happen overnight, it had been brewing between them for five years, over an argument of who would rule western Rome. He won the battle and Maxentius died, he attributed his win to Christianity.

Constantine was the son of the ruler of western Rome but the system of rule at the time was Tetrarchy, the rule of four people. The other three rulers that ruled with Constantine were killed. On 310 constantine arranged for the assassination

of Maximian. Galerius died of natural causes in 311. Maxentinus died in the battle of Milvian Bridge on 312. Maximinus committed suicide on 313 after losing

a battle to Licinius.

Constantine made many changes in his time of rule. He got rid of the Praetorian Guard, a force that the emperor controls that patrols around the capital or wherever the ruler is. The Praetorian Guard was not used to force political changes.

Constantine and Licinius supported different religions, Licinius supported Peganism and Constantine supported Christianity. They couldn't agree on anything and eventually they went into battle on 324 at the battles of Adrianople and Chrysopolis. Constantine won both and Licinius was captured and executed. Now Constantine was the lone ruler.

Constantine moved the capital from Rome to Byzantium, later renamed Constantinople. Rome was an undesirable capital because it suffered from flooding and was too far away from eastern Rome. He constructed many things for the city, one of the most notable was the church Hagia Sophia. Constantine achieved

many things in his life and reformed the way rome was run. He died 337.