Flavius Valerius Constantinus, who would become Roman emperor Constantine I, was born on February 27, circa 280 (sources range from 272 to 284), in Naissus, Moesia (now Niš, Serbia). Catherine II, or Catherine the Great, served as empress of Russia for more than three decades in the late 18th century after overthrowing her husband, Peter III. A famous proponent of this practice was Pope Gregory the Great, who, in a letter written in 601 C.E. In 306 AD, Constantine (274 – 337 AD) became ruler of the Roman Empire. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); Subscribe to the Biography newsletter to receive stories about the people who shaped our world and the stories that shaped their lives. He had ruled for 31 years, longer than any emperor since Augustus. For centuries, Catholic popes traced their power to a decree called the Donation of Constantine (later proved a forgery). Licinius was routed and Constantine became sole Emperor of Rome. Erin is a Bible study editor and COO of The Popcast Media Group from Birmingham. Three centuries after Jesus lived, this council > was given the task of separating divinely inspired writings from those > of questionable origin. Constantine was a … Many credit Emperor Constantine for the spread of Christianity. Constantine now became the Western Roman emperor. Eastern Orthodox Christians, Anglicans, and Byzantine Catholics venerate him as a saint. Constantine was declared emperor by his troops. Edward Gibbon . Find her on Instagram. FringePop321 Chances are good that you know there were other gospels—accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus—that never made it into the Bible. The next year, Constantius died at Eboracum (now York). During his time of leadership, he united Greece, reestablished the Corinthian League and conquered the Persian Empire. Peter the Great was a Russian czar in the late 17th century, who is best known for his extensive reforms in an attempt to establish Russia as a great nation. In 324, Constantine defeated Licinius and took control of a reunited empire. This video covers the life and reign of Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor of the Roman Empire. The King James Bible is written in English -- a language that only began to appear in A.D. 449 and was totally unlike the 1600's style of speaking the language. When Rome fell, Constantinople became the de facto seat of the empire. It is very important to clarify exactly what role the Emperor Constantine played in the Council of Nicea, what the purpose for the council was, what happened at Nicea, and briefly how the canon—the Bible as we know it—was formed. The Roman Emperor Constantine (c 280 - 337 A.D.) was one of the most influential personages in ancient history. … In 325 AD Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea, the first empire-wide meeting of church leaders to discuss various controversies. The Roman Emperor Constantine (c 280 - 337 A.D.) was one of the most influential personages in ancient history. Constantine continued to proclaim his adherence to Christianity, and his reign established influence over religious conflicts within the church. His father would rise to become the Emperor Constantius I and Constantine's mother would be canonized as St. Helena, who was thought to have found a portion of Jesus' cross. Kamehameha the Great was the Hawaiian conqueror and king who united the Hawaiian Islands and founded the Kamehameha dynasty. Constantine was the son of a Roman official and his Christian concubine. In 285, Emperor Diocletian had established the Tetrarchy, which gave four men rule over a quadrant each of the Roman Empire, with two senior emperors and two non-hereditary juniors. A defense of the Textus Receptus Constantine became emperor of Rome in 312 A.D. supposedly embraced the Christian faith for himself and for his empire, in an attempt to bring about the amalgamation of PAGANISM and Constantine was a vice-Caesar to Emperor Diocletian in the East. Constantine ruled the West, Licinius the East. Christmas on December 25 . Constantine's mother, Helena, was from humble beginnings; it is unknown whether she was the wife or concubine of Constantius. In 316, Licinius, who had been sharing power with Maximinus, became the only Eastern emperor. People often wonder if the gospels were changed or corrupted, or even selected (in some back-room conspiracy) for inclusion in the Bible at this time. Constantine’s decision to cease the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire was a turning point for early Christianity, sometimes referred to as the Triumph of the Church, the Peace of the Church, or the Constantinian Shift. > In tracing the origin of the Bible, one is led to AD 325, when > Constantine the Great called the First Council of Nicaea, composed of > 300 religious leaders. After his father's death, Constantine fought to take power. Constantine was a … He was the son of Constantius Chlorus by his first, informal marriage, called concubinatus, with Helena, a woman of inferior birth. Maxentius. But his work for the faith of Jesus was enduring. The Elizabethan era is named for her. For a time, Constantine stood by as others ruled the Eastern Roman Empire. Wearing a sign of a cross, Constantine won, and the following year he made Christianity legal throughout the Empire with the Edict of Milan. © 2021 Biography and the Biography logo are registered trademarks of A&E Television Networks, LLC. Constantine. Who Was Constantine I? Some historians argue that he was never a Christian, but rather an opportunist; others maintain that he was a Christian before the death of his father. He was the first Christian emperor and saw the empire begin to become a Christian state. Constantine died on May 22, 337, in Ancyrona, near Nicomedia, Bithynia (modern-day Izmit, Turkey), at the approximate age of 57. Alexander the Great served as king of Macedonia from 336 to 323 B.C. People often wonder if the gospels were changed or corrupted, or even selected (in some back-room conspiracy) for inclusion in the Bible at this time. The idea that the book of Corinthians actually has more chapters and verses in Hell than on Earth is not too far off. Lactantius Historical Account. When Constantinus died suddenly in 306, the loyalty of the Army would pass to his son Constantine. N.S. Constantinople: Capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, Timelines and Chronologies of Roman Emperors, Roman Empire: Battle of the Milvian Bridge, M.A., Linguistics, University of Minnesota. One such reform was a reorganization of the army, which helped Constantine when he faced tribes such as the Visigoths and the Sarmatians. To make the designation official, he began to fight for power. Constantine And The Bible According to many historians and the writer of the famous Da Vinci Code, the content of the present-day Bible that is known to people worldwide was actually put together by Constantine The Great, who was actually a pagan before this. While not shooting for accuracy, some parallels and interpretations are spot-on. Answer: It is very important to clarify exactly what role the Emperor Constantine played in the Council of Nicea, what the purpose for the council was, what happened at Nicea, and briefly how the canon—the Bible as we know it—was formed. Council of Nicaea. By the time Constantius became governor of Dalmatia, he required a wife of pedigree and found one in Theodora, a daughter of Emperor Maximian. She has been featured by NPR and National Geographic for her ancient history expertise. Constantine I was a Roman emperor who ruled early in the 4th century. This would change only after Constantine converted to Christianity. Constantine was in Helenopolis, planning a campaign against Persia when he fell ill. At the Council of Nicea, Constantine the Great settled Christian doctrine for the ages. He set out to return to Constantinople, but grew worse and was forced to halt his journey. In 313, Constantine and Licinius issued … In 289, Constantine's father left Helena to marry the stepdaughter of Maximian, the Western Roman emperor. Constantine I - Constantine I - Commitment to Christianity: Shortly after the defeat of Maxentius, Constantine met Licinius at Mediolanum (modern Milan) to confirm a number of political and dynastic arrangements. In 305, following Maximian's abdication, Constantine's father became Emperor Constantius I. Constantine then joined his father on a military campaign and fought alongside him in Britain. Born in Naissus, Dacia Mediterranea (now Niš, Serbia), he was the son of Flavius Constantius, an Illyrian army officer who became one of the four emperors of the Tetrarchy. By 336, Constantine the Great had reclaimed most of the province of Dacia, lost to Rome in 271. He enlarged the city, adding fortifications, a vast hippodrome for chariot racing, and a number of temples. Constantine wasn't the only claimant. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. His convocation of the First Council at Nicea produced the Nicene Creed, an article of faith among Christians worldwide. He soon used his power to address the status of Christians, issuing the Edict of Milan in 313. Many of the Roman Emperors that came before him were openly hostile to the Gospel, killing and persecuting Christians. To celebrate his victory, Constantine created Constantinople on the site of Byzantium, which had been Licinius' stronghold. He became the Western emperor in 312 and the sole Roman emperor in 324. Constantine himself was sent to the court of Diocletian, the Eastern Roman emperor. (Constantine actually resisted baptism until he was on his deathbed.) In 312, Constantine fought in Italy, meeting Maxentius and his forces at the Milvian Bridge on the Tiber River. Known For: An accomplished historian as well as the Bishop of Caesarea, Eusebius created, cataloged, and preserved historical accounts and documentation of the first three centuries of Christianity. Upon his father's death on July 25, 306 A.D., Constantine's troops proclaimed him Caesar. Of course, there is the problem that Constantine spoke Latin since he ruled the Roman Empire. He gained his fame for becoming the single ruler of the Roman Empire (after he deceived and defeated Licinius) before supposedly converting to … Constantine's decision to cease the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire was a turning point for early Christianity, sometimes referred to as the Triumph of the Church, the Peace of the Church or the Constantinian shift.In 313, Constantine and Licinius issued the Edict of Milan decriminalizing Christian worship. Constantine's mother, Helena, was a barmaid and his father a military officer named Constantius. Emperor Constantine (ca A.D. 280– 337) reigned over a major transition in the Roman Empire—and much more. https://www.biography.com/political-figure/constantine-i. Constantine grew up under the influence of his father's ideas. From the mid-fourth century on, we do find Christians deliberately adapting and Christianizing pagan festivals. Born: The exact date of his birth is unknown; most … While in power, Constantine issued reforms intended to strengthen his regime. After Maxentius' defeat, Constantine and his brother-in-law, Licinius, split the empire between them. In 325 AD Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea, the first empire-wide meeting of church leaders to discuss various controversies. There, Constantine was educated in Latin and Greek. Our resident Bible scholar Erin Moon offers a gentle rebuke at the end of every episode. Constantine was also the first emperor to adhere to Christianity. By adopting Christianity as the religion of the vast Roman Empire, he elevated a once illegal cult to the law of the land. Constantine I was a Roman emperor who ruled early in the 4th century. He also established a second Senate. Lucifer has an immense amount of power, he is far stronger than any Demon, Angels and possibly all archangels, he is even stronger than his son Mammon, despite his immense power he is still weaker than God. We strive for accuracy and fairness. Diocletian. Gill is a Latinist, writer, and teacher of ancient history and Latin. By adopting Christianity as the religion of the vast Roman Empire, he elevated a once illegal cult to the law of the land. The Fall of Rome: How, When, and Why Did It Happen? You can set your address, phone number, email and site description in the settings tab. The Fifty Bibles of Constantine were Bibles in the original Greek language commissioned in 331 by Constantine I and prepared by Eusebius of Caesarea.They were made for the use of the Bishop of Constantinople in the growing number of churches in that very new city. Constantine and Helena were shuffled off to the eastern emperor, Diocletian, in Nicomedia. And by establishing a capital at Byzantium, which became Constantinople and then Istanbul, he set into motion events that would break the empire, split the Christian church, and influence European history for a millennium. Constantine's father was elevated to deputy emperor under Maximian in 293. Constantine borrows characters from the Old and New Testaments liberally. Elizabeth I was a long-ruling queen of England, governing with relative stability and prosperity for 44 years. His father, Flavius Valerius Constantius, was an officer in the Roman army. Constantine was influential in Christian history for his personal faith, religious politics, issuing the Edict of Milan, and calling the Council of Nicea. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, The Arian Controversy and the Council of Nicea. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem was built on his orders and became the holiest site in Christendom. His bias for Emperor Constantine is transparent in his eulogy, and he appears to lack discretion when it comes to selecting his sources. Unable to complete his dream of being baptized in the Jordan River, as was Jesus, he was baptized by Eusebius of Nicomedia on his deathbed. Charles I was a king of England, Scotland and Ireland, whose conflicts with parliament and his subjects led to civil war and his execution. Flavius Valerius Constantinus was born in Naissus, in the province of Moesia Superior, present-day Serbia. No, Constantine did not form or collate the Bible. Constantine I's father became the Western Roman emperor in 305. He planned a great campaign against the Sassanid rulers of Persia but fell ill in 337. Constantine raised an army from Britain that included Germans and Celts, which the Byzantine historian Zosimus said included 90,000 foot soldiers and 8,000 cavalry. The two remained rivals over a decade of uneasy truces before their animosity culminated in the Battle of Chrysopolis, in 324. But he did not himself become a … Constantine I (Latin: Flavius Valerius Constantinus; Greek: Κωνσταντῖνος, translit. By winning wars and expanding territories, he established Prussia as a strong military power. He was the first Christian emperor and saw the empire begin to become a Christian state. Constantine's faith was still imprecise, but few questioned its authenticity. Emperors Nero, Domitian, Marcus Aurelius (of Gladiator movie fame), Diocletian and others succeeded one another with bloody persecutions of Christians. Unlike other Angels, Lucifer can manifest on Earth. Maxentius raised an army of 170,000 foot soldiers and 18,000 horsemen. Constantine was the most dominating figure of his lifetime, towering over his contemporaries, including Pope Sylvester I. At the Council of Nicea, Constantine the Great settled Christian doctrine for the ages. Constantine was the Roman Emperor from 306-337 AD. 123 Street Avenue, City Town, 99999 (123) 555-6789. email@address.com . Constantine's most powerful rivals for his father's position were Maximian and his son, Maxentius, who had assumed power in Italy, controlling Africa, Sardinia, and Corsica as well. Not wanting questions about the divine nature of Christ to sow discord, Constantine summoned church officials to the Council of Nicaea in 325. Constantius had been one of the senior emperors. While the Roman Empire once heavily persecuted the Church, Constantine legalised the Christian faith and even endorsed it to the point of it becoming the official religion of the empire. 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