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Born in the city of Naissus, his father, Flavius Constantius, was a skilled politician, soldier, and bodyguard to Emperor Aurelian. His mother, Helena, was of low social rank.
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Diocletian, the eastern Augustus, appointed Constantine's father, Constantius, to Caesar and immediately sent him off to battle. This set up Constantine as Constantius's heir to the role of Caesar. Constantine stayed in Diocletian's court as a hostage to ensure his father's loyalty.
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Constantine witnessed Diocletian persecuting all Christians under his rule, based on instructions from the oracle of Apollo. He has churches and scripture burned, Christians deprived of rank, and priests jailed. Constantine remains neutral during the Great Persecution.
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Both Diocletian and Galerius resigned their roles as Augusti. Galerius was named Augustus in the east, and Constantius was named Augustus in the west. Constantine was forced to flee to his father's protection to as Galerius tried to kill Constantine on several occasions.
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Constantius fell sick and died during a campaign in Britan, naming Constantine as his heir as Augustus. Galerius was outraged by the news, but was forced to compromise and granted him the title of Caesar, giving him control over Britain, Gaul, and Spain.
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Outraged by Constantine's power, a political rival named Maxentius seized the title of emperor and started a civil war in Rome. Constantine sent an army against him, but since the soldiers served under Maxentius's father, they defect to the rebel's side.
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When off to battle Maxetius, Contantine had a dream that if he painted the cross on his shields, he would win the war, even though Maxentius's numbers were far greater than his. Constantine then defeated Maxentius, who was killed in the battle, and entered Rome to great celebration. The Senate named him Augustus.
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Constantine met with one of his few remaining rivals, Licinius, and both men agreed to the Edict of Milan, which grants full tolerance to Christianity and all other religions in the Empire.
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After solidifying the empire and instituting political and economic reforms, Constantine was finally baptized as a Christian shortly before dying on May 22, 337. He was buried in Constantinople and was succeeded by his son, Constantine II.
