Constantine
Constantine, head of the colossal statue. Musei Capitolini, Rome
Constantine (February 27, 272May 22, 337), commonly known as
Constantine I or Constantine the Great, was proclaimed
Augustus by his troops on July 25, 306 and ruled an ever-growing
portion of the Roman Empire until his death. Constantine is famed
for his refounding of Byzantium (modern Istanbul) as "Nova Roma"
(New Rome), which was popularly known in his time as "Constantine's
City" (Constantinopolis, Constantinople). Constantine is best
remembered in modern times for the Edict of Milan in 313 and the
First Council of Nicaea
in 325, which fully legalized and then legitimized Christianity in
the Empire for the first time. These actions are considered major
factors in that religion's spread, and his reputation as the "first
Christian Emperor" has been promulgated by historians from
Lactantius and
Eusebius of Caesarea
to the present day.
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