Constantine I, aka Constantine the Great, was Roman emperor from 306 to 337 CE. Realizing that the Roman Empire was too large for one man to adequately rule, Emperor Diocletian (284-305 CE) split the empire into two, creating a tetrachy or rule of four. While he ruled the east from Nicomedia as an “augustus” with Galerius as his “caesar,” Maximian and Constantius the Pale ruled the west. It was the son of Constantius, Constantine, who would one day rise to defeat all challengers to the throne and reunite the split empire, moving the capital away from Old Rome and build a new eastern capital, a capital that one day would bear his name, Constantinople.
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Definition
Timeline
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272 CEPossible year of Emperor Constantine's birth.
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306 CEConstantius the Pale (father of Constantine I ) dies.
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308 CEConstantine I named "caesar" of the west.
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312 CERoman emperor Constantine I tolerates Christianity.
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312 CEConstantine defeats Maxentius at Milvian Bridge.
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312 CEConstantine I disbands the Praetorian Guard.
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312 CEConstantine I reduces the cohortes urbanae of Rome.
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27 Oct 312 CEAccording to tradition, on the evening before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge between Constantine I and Maxentius over who would rule the Roman Empire, Constantine received a vision from God telling him to put "the heavenly sign" on the shields of his soldiers for victory. Constantine believed the vision, had the shields painted with the sign (probably the Chi-Rho) and won the battle. The event is often referenced as the Vision of the Cross.
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28 Oct 312 CEThe Battle of the Milvian Bridge is fought between emperors Constantine I and Maxentius for control of the Roman Empire, ending in a victory for Constantine I who, in gratitude for a vision of victory he claimed to have received from God the night before, ends the persecution of Christians and, eventually, paves the way for Christianity to become the state religion.
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313 CEThe Basilica of Maxentius & Constantine is completed in Rome's Forum Romanum.
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313 CEThe Edict of Milan enacted by Constantine I.
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c. 315 CEArch of Constantine I built in Rome to commemorate victory over Maxentius in 312 CE.
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315 CEThe Baths of Constantine I in Rome are completed.
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7 Mar 321 CERoman Emperor Constantine I declares "The Venerable Day of the Sun" a day of rest, thereby establishing Sunday and the tradition of not working on the first day of the week.
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Sep 324 CEConstantine I defeats Licinius at Chrysopolis.
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325 CERoman Emperor Constantine I calls the Council of Nicaea.
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11 May 330 CEConstantinople is founded on the site of old Byzantium as "the new Rome."
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337 CEDeath of Emperor Constantine I.
