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Constantine The Great Facts & Worksheets

Constantine the Great, the first Roman emperor to embrace Christianity, was born in the late 280s CE. Constantine's reign not only marked the beginning of Rome's conversion to Christianity but also laid the foundation for Christian culture, influencing both Byzantine and Western medieval civilizations.

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Constantine the Great, the first Roman emperor to embrace Christianity, was born in the late 280s CE. Raised in the Eastern Empire, he came from a military background, with his father, Constantius I Chlorus, serving as a deputy emperor. Constantine’s reign not only marked the beginning of Rome’s conversion to Christianity but also laid the foundation for Christian culture, influencing both Byzantine and Western medieval civilizations.

See the fact file below for more information about Constantine The Great, or you can download our 31-page Constantine The Great worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

INTRODUCTION

  • Constantine was likely born toward the end of the 280s CE. He was the child of army officer Flavius Valerius Constantius and his concubine Helena. He was a typical member of the military ruling class of the latter third century. 
  • His father was appointed Constantius I Chlorus, a Caesar or deputy emperor, in 293 CE and went to the West to serve Augustus (emperor) Maximian. 
  • Constantine was raised in the Eastern Empire at the court of the elder emperor Diocletian at Nicomedia (modern-day Zmit, Turkey) after Constantius had divorced Helena in 289 to wed a stepdaughter of Maximian. 
  • Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea, who would become his future panegyrist, saw Constantine as a young man traveling through Palestine with Diocletian on the route to a war in Egypt.

CAREER AND CONVERSION

  • Constantine’s upbringing in the Eastern imperial court, where Latin was the primary language, left a strong impression on him. He was more comfortable with Latin than Greek, and later in life, he began delivering edifying sermons in Greek with Latin translations prepared by experts. 
  • During his time, Christianity became a significant public policy issue, especially in the eastern part of the empire, with the great persecution of Christians beginning in 303.
  • After the abdication of Diocletian and Maximian in 305, Constantius became the Western emperor, and Galerius ruled the East. Constantine joined his father, Constantius, in the West after Galerius granted his request. 
  • Tragedy struck when Constantius was killed in battle in 306, and Constantine was subsequently recognized as the emperor. Civil wars erupted, and Maxentius, son of Maximian, rebelled in Rome. 
  • With the support of his father, Maxentius defeated Severus, who had been appointed the Western emperor by Galerius.
  • Maximian later joined Constantine in Gaul but betrayed him and met a grim fate in 310. Constantine married Maximian’s daughter, Fausta, in 307; in 312, he invaded Italy, defeating Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge near Rome. 
  • Galerius passed away in 311, and Constantine established an agreement with Licinius to rule the East and West, respectively.
  • Over time, Constantine credited his success to his conversion to Christianity and the assistance of the Christian God. He built a triumphal arch and erected a statue in Rome to commemorate his victory over Maxentius, attributing it to divine inspiration. 
  • After defeating Licinius in 324, Constantine wrote a letter to the Persian monarch Shapur II, wherein he claimed to be God’s appointed agent for suppressing impiety and restoring peace and prosperity with heavenly assistance.
  • Constantine’s embrace of Christianity was pivotal in his rise to power. According to accounts, he was instructed in a dream to depict the Christian monogram, the Chi-Rho, for the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.
  • While some suggest that his conversion was politically motivated, in a time when religious piety was closely associated with political success, it was not unusual for rulers to seek divine support for their claims to power. 
  • It is remarkable how Constantine wholeheartedly embraced his newfound faith and transformed it into a deeply personal commitment.

COMMITMENT TO CHRISTIANITY

  • Licinius and Constantine met in Mediolanum (modern Milan) after Maxentius’ defeat to establish various political and dynastic agreements. 
  • This meeting led to the Edict of Milan, which granted Christians tolerance and returned their confiscated properties. Licinius published copies of this decree in the eastern parts of the empire. 
  • However, Constantine went beyond this and granted the Lateran land to the bishop of Rome, leading to the construction of the Basilica Constantiniana (now San Giovanni in Laterano) and likely the church of St. Sebastian. He also passed laws granting financial and legal benefits to the Christian church and its clergy while exempting them from civic duties.
  • Constantine believed that the unity of the Christian church was crucial to avoid divine wrath and ensure the well-being of the Roman Empire. He viewed schism as originating from Satan and argued against the Donatist position, which refused to readmit priests and bishops who had lapsed from the Christian faith. Constantine believed his duty as emperor was to eradicate error and promote the true religion.
  • Constantine’s involvement in the Arian controversy (a theological disagreement) was unrelated to his intellectual background and characterized by his impulsive nature. 
  • He initially believed the dispute was trivial and could be quickly resolved but later found that the theological nuances and the parties involved made it more challenging. 
  • The Council of Nicaea, which Constantine convened in 325, failed to resolve the issue entirely.
  • During Constantine’s 20th anniversary celebration as emperor, a political crisis arose when he traveled to Rome in 326. 
  • For unknown reasons, he had his eldest son, Flavius Julius Crispus, and wife, Fausta, killed while he was away. 
  • His refusal to participate in a pagan parade in Rome further strained relations with the Roman populace, and he never returned to the city.

FINAL YEARS

  • In the later years of Constantine’s reign, significant developments occurred. 
  • He confirmed the shift away from Rome as the imperial center by dedicating Constantinople in 330 as his new capital, renaming Byzantium as Constantinople after defeating Licinius. He transformed the city into a grand and permanent capital, relegating Rome to opulent seclusion, retaining its prestige but losing political significance.
  • Constantine’s mother, Helena, embarked on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 326, marked by charitable acts and religious foundations, including churches in Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
  • The most notable was the discovery of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, leading to the construction of a grand basilica nearby, with Constantine providing extensive support and design ideas.
  • Constantine also showed interest in constructing churches elsewhere, such as the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome and churches in various cities like Trier, Aquileia, and Antioch.
  • The emperor was a devout Christian, calling theologian Lactantius to serve as his son Crispus’ tutor and ordering fresh copies of the Bible for the growing Christian congregations in Constantinople. 
  • He enacted laws related to Christian beliefs and practices, including protecting the clergy, mandating the observance of Sunday and saints’ days, and banning certain pagan customs.
  • Thought to have been delayed by the obligations of his office, Constantine had hoped to be baptized in the Jordan River before the end of his life. 
  • He fell ill while preparing for a campaign against Persia, was baptized near Nicomedia, and passed away in 337. His tomb featured memorials from his church in Constantinople, reflecting his strong belief in Christianity and his role in advancing it throughout his life.

LEGACY

  • Complex and multifaceted aspects mark Constantine’s reign. 
  • While he dedicated himself to Christianity, his public statements and actions often carried ambiguities due to the need to maintain traditional practices and communicate radical reforms simultaneously.
  • Constantine’s conversion to Christianity led to significant changes, including the disappearance of pagan gods from coinage.
  • However, he balanced his Christian initiatives with gestures of deference to traditional practices and allowed some level of folk magic and provincial priesthoods to continue.
  • His secular accomplishments, including administrative reforms and the introduction of the solidus currency, were influenced by the developments of the previous decades. 
  • Confiscations from pagan temples and new taxation partly funded Constantine’s generosity to his supporters.
  • His military successes, particularly against the Franks, Sarmatians, and Goths, demonstrated his tactical prowess.
  • One of his significant political accomplishments was the restoration of dynastic succession, leaving the empire to his three sons, even though political assassinations followed this.
  • Constantine’s most profound impact was in social and cultural history. 
  • He played a pivotal role in the Christianization of the Roman Empire, fostering new forms of religious patronage and promoting a Christian, biblical culture that replaced traditional Classical culture among the upper classes.
  • Overall, Constantine’s reign marked a turning point in Roman history, with his personal decision in 312 leading to the transformation of the Roman Empire into a Christian state. 
  • Some believed his function to be divinely preordained, and he was instrumental in determining how Christian history would develop.

Constantine The Great Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Constantine The Great across 31 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Constantine The Great. Raised in the Eastern Empire, he came from a military background, with his father, Constantius I Chlorus, serving as a deputy emperor. Constantine’s reign not only marked the beginning of Rome’s conversion to Christianity but also laid the foundation for Christian culture, influencing both Byzantine and Western medieval civilizations.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Constantine the Great Facts
  2. Knowledge Recall
  3. Iconic Artifacts
  4. Architectural Marvel
  5. Unifier or Divider?
  6. City Planning
  7. Voices of Roman Citizens
  8. Symbolic Portrait
  9. Decipher History
  10. Historical Role-Play
  11. Religious Policies

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Constantine the Great?

Constantine the Great, also known as Flavius Valerius Constantinus, was a Roman emperor who ruled from 306 to 337 AD. He is best known for being the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity and for his role in the legalization and promotion of Christianity within the Roman Empire.

What is the significance of the Edict of Milan issued by Constantine?

The Edict of Milan, issued by Constantine in 313 AD along with his co-emperor Licinius, granted religious tolerance to all religions within the Roman Empire. This edict particularly ended the persecution of Christians, allowing them to practice their faith openly. It marked a significant shift in Roman policy towards religious diversity.

Where did Constantine move the capital of the Roman Empire, and what was it named?

Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Byzantium, a city strategically located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. He extensively rebuilt and expanded the city, renaming it Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). This move had profound consequences for the later history of the Roman Empire.

What role did Constantine play in the Nicene Council?

Constantine played a key role in convening the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. This council aimed to address theological disputes within the Christian community, particularly the Arian controversy. Constantine hoped to achieve unity within the Christian Church to strengthen political stability. The Nicene Creed, a statement of Christian faith, was formulated during this council.

How did Constantine’s conversion to Christianity impact the Roman Empire?

Constantine’s conversion to Christianity had a profound impact on the Roman Empire. It marked a departure from the traditional Roman religious practices and set the stage for the Christianization of the empire. Constantine issued various edicts and laws that supported and favored Christianity, leading to its eventual establishment as the state religion under later emperors. This shift had lasting implications for the cultural, religious, and political landscape of the Roman Empire and its successor states.

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