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Constantine the Great
Constantine I the Great: emperor of the Roman world (r. 306-337).
Names:
- 27 February c.273: Gaius Flavius Valerius Constantinus
- 25 July 306: Flavius Valerius Constantinus Caesar Herculius
- Summer 307: Imperator Constantinus Augustus
- 22 May 337: natural death
Successor of: Constantius I Chlorus
Relatives
- father: Constantius I Chlorus
- mother: Helen
- first wife: Minervina
- son: Crispus
- second wife: Fausta (daughter of Maximianus)
- sons: Constantinus II, Constantius II, Constans
- daughters: Constantina, Helena
Road to Power
- 298 Staff officer in Galerius' Persian campaign
- c.300 Marriage to Minervina
- Birth of Crispus
- 302 With Diocletian in Egypt
- 305 Diocletian and Maximian retire; Galerius and Constantius augusti
- Distinguishes himself during Galerius' Sarmatian war; proceeds to the west, joins his father
- Late 305 Present during his father's campaign against the Picts
- 306, July 25: When Constantius dies, the soldiers of the Sixth Legion Victrix proclaim Constantine emperor; he is recognized as caesar by the eastern emperors Galerius an Maximinus Daia;
- 306, October: Maxentius usurps power in Italy, but is not recognized
- 307 Constantine crosses the North Sea and attacks the Franks (accepts the title Germanicus Maximus?); return to Britain (?); visits Trier, where he is recognized as augustus by Maximian, who has returned from retirement; Constantine marries Fausta, daughter of Maximian; both men recognize each other as consul
- 308 War against the Germans (accepts the title Germanicus Maximus II?); Constantine again recognized as caesar by the emperors who have gathered in Carnuntum; Maximian resigns and stays in Constantine's territories in souterh Gaul; Licinius appointed as emperor; Maxentius loses Africa to Lucius Domitius Alexander
- 309 Consul (with Licinius); Constantine build a bridge across the Rhine near Cologne
- 310 Maximianus provokes a new rebellion, is captured, and commits suicide news about an insurrection of the Franks forces Constantine to return to the north; vision along the road to Andesina; Maxentius recovers Africa
- 310, Spring: Decennalia in Trier
- 311 Galerius puts an end to the persecution of Christian and dies soon after; Maximinus Daia occupies Asia Minor; growing tensions with Licinius, who allies himself to Constantine; Licinius and Constantine's sister Constantia engaged
- 312 Consul II (with Licinius II); Constantine crosses the Alps, attacks and defeats the usurper Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge
- 313 Consul III (with Licinius III); meeting of Licinius and Constantine (Edict of Milan); Licinius defeats his rival Maximinus Daia on the Campus Serenus near Adrianople; Constantine in Britain
- 314 Synod of Arles
- 315 Consul IV (with Licinius IV); Constantine defeats the Sarmatians and Visigoths; visit to Rome; Arch of Constantine
- 316 Constantine decides against the Donatists; birth of Constantinus II; brief war against Licinius
- 317 Constantine and Licinius declare their sons Crispus, Constantinus II, and Licinius Junior caesares; birth of Constantius II
- 318 Crispus consul (with Licinius V)
- 319 Consul V (with Licinius Junior)
- 320 Consul VI (with Constantinus II); birth of Constans (or 323)
- 321 Crispus consul II (with Constantinus II consul II); Constantine grants tolerance to the Donatists
- 321, 7 March: Law to proclaim Sunday, "the venerable day of the Sun", as a day of rest
- 322 Defeats the Sarmatians
- 323 War against the Visigoths; accepts the title Sarmaticus Maximus III
- 323 Christians no longer forced to attend pagan ceremonies
Sole ruler
- 324 Crispus consul III (with Constantinus II consul III); war with Licinius; Crispus commands the navy and defeats Licinius' admiral Amandus; Licinius himself is defeated near Adrianopel and (18 September 324) Chrysopolis, flees to Asia, resigns, and is exiled to Thessaloniki; Constantius II made caesar; foundation of Constantinople
- 325 Execution of Licinius
- 325, 20 May - 19 June: First Ecumenical Council, at Nicea
- 326 Consul VII (with Constantius II)
- 326, February: fall and death of Crispus; execution of Fausta
- Visit to Rome; vicennalia; the empress-mother Helen to Jerusalem
- 326, 18 November: Dedication of St. Peter's basilica
- 327 Second gathering of the Council of Nicea
- 327 Helena in Jerusalem
- 328 War against the Visigoths; accepts the title Gothicus Maximus II; Constantinus II directs a war against the Alamans
- 329 Consul VIII (with Constantinus II consul IV); death of Helena; war against the Visigoths; accepts the title Germanicus Maximus IV
- 330 Constantinople made imperial residence
- 332 Constantinus II defeats the Visigoths
- 333 Revolt of Colocaerus on Cyprus
- 334 Sarmatians expelled from the empire; Delmatius suppresses the revolt of Colocaerus
- 335 Tricennalia; Delmatius proclaimed caesar; Hannibalianus made king of the Pontic nations
- 336 Accepts the title Dacicus Maximus
- 337 Easter celebrated in Constantinople; Delmatius assassinated; Persian embassy; baptism; death
Buildings:
- Rome: Santa Costanza (= mausoleum of Constantina); Arch of Constantine; Basilica of Constantine; Baths of Constantine; Baths of Helena; Saint Peter's basilica; Saint John's basilica; Saint Paul's basilica
- Arles: Baths of Constantine
- Trier: Basilica
- Constantinople: Great palace; walls (finished by Theodosius II); Church of Divine Peace; Binbirderek cistern; Column of Constantine; hippodrome
- Bethlehem: Church of the Nativity
- Jerusalem: Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Contemporary events:
- 313 Council of Rome condemns Donatism
- 314 Council of Arles
- 320 Death of Lactantius
- 325 Council of Nicea condemns Arianism
- 328 Athanasius bishop of Alexandria
- 332 Death of Gregory the Illuminator
- 335 Athanasius bannished to Trier
- 335, 31 December Death of pope Sylvester
- 336 Death of Arius
Succeeded by: Constantinus II, Constantius II, Constans