Constantine the Great :: History

Constantine was born in Naissus on 27 February in AD 285. He was the son of Helena, an inn keepers daughter, and Constantius Chlorus. Constantine became a member of the court of Diocletian when his father, Constantius Chlorus was elevated to the rank of Caesar. He proved an officer of much promise serving under Diocletians Caesar Galerius against the Persians. posterior on, He was leading a battle against Maxentius, and on his way to rome, he saw a flaming cross in the sky that said By this sign, thou shall conquer. The next day his army was victorious against the more numerous army. Constantine saw this victory as directly related to the vision he had had the wickedness before. Henceforth Constantine saw himself as an emperor of the Christian people. With his victory over Maxentius at the battle of Milvian Bridge, Constantine became the dominant figure in the empire. The senate warmly welcomed him to Rome and the two rest emperors, Licinius and Maximinus II Daia could do l ittle else but agree to his demand that he henceforth should be the senior Augustus In this position, he ordered Maximinus to cease his repression of the Christians. notwithstanding this turn toward Christianity, Constantine remained for some years still very tolerant of the old pagan religions. As time went on Constantine should become ever more relate with the Christian church. He appeared at first to have very little hold of the basic beliefs governing Christian faith. But, gradually he became more introduce with them, So much so that he sought to resolve theological disputes among the church itself. This willingness to resolve matters through peaceful debate showed one side of Constantine, and his unrelenting enforcement of the decisions reached at meetings showed the other.