Constantine the Great

The reign of Diocletian

Period: 284 to 305

The reign of the emperor Diocletian (284−305) marked the final widespread persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. As many as 3,000−3,500 Christians were executed under the the authority of Imperial edicts.

Birth of Constantine the Great

285

Constantine the Great was a Roman Emperor of IIIyrian ancestry son of Constantius Chlorus a Roman army officer and Helena. He was born in Naissus, Moesia Superior (modern day Serbia). Constantine was known as the first emperor to claim conversion to Christianity.

Great Persecution

303

All the Christians were apprehended and imprisoned; and Galerius privately ordered the imperial palace to be set on fire, that the Christians might be charged as the ones who started the fire.Many houses were set on fire, and whole Christian families perished in the flames; and others had stones fastened about their necks, tied together and thrown into the sea. This is a painting of the beheading of a Bishop during the Christian persectuions. (Author unknown)

Constantine's father becomes Emperor Constanius I

305

Maximian abdicates the throne and Constantine's father becomes Emperor Constanius I. Constantine along with his father crossed together to Britain and fought a campaign in the north before Constantius’s death at Eboracum (modern York)

Constantine's father dies

306

Constantine's father becomes ill and dies. Constantine is decalred emperor by his troops almost immediatly after the death of his father. He becomes involved in a series of civil wars and defends his position against Maxentius and his son. (In this painting we see a representation of Constantine being handed the keys to the city of Rome)

Constantine and Fausta

307

Fausta a Roman empress daughter of Maximianus. Maximianus used her to seal the alliance between them for control of the Tetrarchy. That is why she was forced to marry Constantine I. Together they had 3 sons and 2 daughters. As the emperor's wife Fausta held the rank of nobilissima femina ( most noble lady)

Battle of the Milvian Bridge

312

The battle was in Italy between the Roman Emperors Constantine I and Maxentius. Constantine won the battle and started on the path that led him to end the Tetrarchy and become the sole ruler of the Roman Empire. Maxentius drowned in the Tiber during the battle. This battle is said to have been the beginning of Constantine's conversion to Christianity. The painting shows a depiction of Constantine looking up to the sun before the battle where he saw a cross with a light above it (author unknown)

Edict of Milan

313

As Western Roman Emperor Constantine orders that all Christians be given the freedom of worship throughout the empire and assured Christians of legal rights (including the right to organize churches), and directed the prompt return to Christians of confiscated property. . This political agreement between Roman emperors Constantine I and Licinius in Milan was called the Edict of Milan.

Venerable day of the sun

321

Constantine orders that everyone in the Roman Empire rest on Sunday and that the workshops be closed. (The image shows Constantine writing the law of the day of rest author unknow)

Battle of Adrianople

324

Constantine defeated his last enemy, Licinius, and thus became master of the Roman Empire, but he did not make Rome his capital, instead he built a new one at Byzantium which he called Constantinople. The picture shows Emperor Constantine officially consecrating the City of Constantinople (author unknown)

First Council of Nicaea

325

Constantine orders a council of Christian bishops that is held in Nicaea in Bithynia. The main purpose of this council is to settle the Christian issue of the nature of the Son of God and his relationshipt to God the Father. Out of this came the Nicene Creed, which affirmed that Jesus was a divine being. (The picture represents a depiction of what the gathering of the First Council of Nicaea could of looked like author unknown)

Constantine orders death

326

Constantine orders his older son (Crispus) be seized and put to death by poison. A few months later he orders his wife Fausta be left to die inside a over heated bath tub. Little is known as to why Constantine did this. Some legends say that Crispus and Fausta were romantically involved causing Constantine to kill them for thier betrayal. (The image is a bronze statue of Consantine The I located in York England)

Death of Constantine

337

Constantine was in Helenopolis, planning a campaign against Persia, when he fell ill. He set out to return to Constantinople, but grew worse and was forced to halt his journey. Realizing he would be dying he asked to be baptized. This was performed on his deathbed by Eusebius, bishop of Nicomedia.He was buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople. (This painting is called The Death of Constantine the Great a modello By Paul Rubens)