Constantinus I the Great

His full name was Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantine (27 February 272 - 22 May 337), Emperor of the Roman Empire (306-337). Historically known as Constantine the Great. In his youth he served in the army of G.A.V. Diocletian. In 305 his father, Constantius Clolus, became Augustus (Emperor) in the western part of the empire. Constantine followed his father to fight in Britain. After his father died in 306, he was established by the army as Augustus in Britain. In 312 he invaded Italy. He later allied with the Eastern Roman Emperor V.L. Licini. In 316 he captured Licini's territory in the Balkans. In 324, he defeated Licini at Adrienburg and Chrysoplis, eventually defeating all competitors for the throne and becoming the dictator of the empire.

Constantine inherited Diocletian's policies in many respects, further strengthened the bureaucracy, implemented separate civil and military affairs, collected land taxes and poll taxes, established a bureaucratic system with strict hierarchical distinctions, and more complex court etiquette. He allowed a large number of "barbarians" to settle within the empire, recruited them into the army, and allowed them to hold important positions. In 332, a decree was promulgated prohibiting the free migration of official farmers. He also prohibited city craftsmen from leaving the handicraft association and city councillors from leaving their cities. In view of the eastward shift of the empire's economic and cultural center, in 330, the capital was moved to Byzantine model for expansion and renamed Constantinople. In terms of religious policies, he, unlike Diocletian, pursued policies that supported Christianity. In 313, he and Lisini, the ruler of the east, jointly issued the "Edict of Milan" recognizing the legal status of Christianity. In 325, he presided over a Christian Synod of Bishops in Nicia and formulated the Christian creed. He died on May 22, 337 ({sys:(year(now)-272)} years ago) and was baptized as a Christian before his death.