Constantine The Great Explained in 10 minutes

Summary

Emperor Constantine is renowned for making Christianity the dominant religion in Rome, significantly influencing its spread. His reign saw the construction of Constantinople, now Istanbul, and the Edict of Milan legalizing Christianity. Despite his ruthless methods, including the execution of family members, Constantine's embrace of Christianity and the Council of Nicaea, which established the Nicene Creed, left a lasting impact on Western history and the development of medieval culture.

Takeaways

• 👑 Constantine is renowned for making Christianity the predominant religion in the Roman Empire, significantly influencing its spread.
• 🏰 He is credited with the construction of Constantinople, which later became a powerful and influential city known today as Istanbul.
• ⚔️ Despite being canonized as a saint for his promotion of Christianity, Constantine's methods were often brutal, including the murder of family and allies to maintain power.
• 👶 Born into a crisis-ridden Roman Empire, Constantine's early life was marked by the empire's division into four parts under a tetrarchy system.
• 🌟 Constantine's rise to power began after his father's death, leading to his proclamation as emperor and subsequent military successes.
• ✝️ A pivotal moment in his life was the reported vision of the cross before the Battle of Milvian Bridge, which he took as a sign from Jesus and led to his adoption of the Christian symbol.
• 📜 The Edict of Milan, co-signed with Licinius, legalized Christianity and marked a significant step in the religion's acceptance and growth.
• 🏛️ Constantine used his imperial power to promote Christianity, influencing church affairs and convening the Council of Nicaea, which resulted in the Nicene Creed.
• 🔨 His building projects, including churches and the new capital, showcased his commitment to Christianity and had a lasting impact on the empire's cultural and religious landscape.
• 🌐 Constantinople's establishment as the 'second Rome' was a strategic and symbolic move that shifted the empire's center of power and contributed to its long-term survival.

Q & A

Who is Constantine known for making the main religion of Rome?

Constantine is known for making Christianity the main religion of Rome.

What significant city did Constantine build that became the most powerful in the world?

Constantine is revered for his efforts in building Constantinople, which is modern-day Istanbul.

What was the Roman Empire facing when Constantine was born in 280 AD?

The Roman Empire was in crisis with civil wars, diseases, and invasions rendering it overstretched and vulnerable when Constantine was born.

How was the Roman Empire governed when Constantine was a child?

When Constantine was born, Emperor Diocletian had split the empire into four quarters, ruled in a tetrarchy of four different rulers.

What significant battle did Constantine win that solidified his power and had a religious impact?

Constantine defeated his brother-in-law Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312, which was both a political and religious victory.

What was the vision Constantine is said to have had before the Battle of Milvian Bridge?

Before the battle, Constantine is said to have had a vision or dream where Jesus promised to protect his armies through the vision of the cross accompanied by the words, 'By this sign, you will conquer.'

What proclamation did Constantine and Licinius agree upon that affected religious freedom?

In 313, Constantine and Licinius agreed to the Edict of Milan, which granted freedom of worship to all people and effectively legalized Christianity.

How did Constantine's reign impact the Christian Church's influence and organization?

Constantine established influence over the Holy Church, weighing in on debates and summoning the Council of Nicaea, which resulted in the Nicene Creed.

What was the strategic reason behind Constantine's decision to build a new capital at Byzantium?

Constantine realized it would be easier to defend against attacks from the east and protect valuable lands in Egypt if he moved his capital to a more defensible eastern position.

What were some of the social reforms Constantine implemented to promote Christianity and unify the state?

Constantine abolished practices like crucifixion, sexual immorality, prostitution, pagan sacrifice, and gladiatorial shows, and built churches to glorify Christianity.

How did Constantine's legacy influence the growth of Western medieval culture?

Constantine's legacy is not only about the conversion and protection of Christianity but also the Christianization of Roman culture and the upper classes' classical culture, which paved the way for the growth of Western medieval culture.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Constantine's Ascendancy and Christian Conversion

Constantine is recognized as the emperor who pivotally promoted Christianity in the Roman Empire, leading to its widespread acceptance. Born into a period of crisis, he rose to power amidst a tetrarchy and eventually became the sole emperor. His military victories, notably at the Battle of Milvian Bridge, were attributed to a vision of the cross, which he adopted as a symbol. Constantine's Edict of Milan with Licinius legalized Christianity, allowing for freedom of worship and the return of confiscated properties. Despite his ruthless political tactics, his embrace of Christianity was a transformative act in Western history.

05:01

🛕 The Christianization of the Roman Empire

Constantine's reign saw significant reforms aimed at Christianizing the Roman Empire. He abolished practices like crucifixion and pagan sacrifices, and constructed churches like the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Constantine also exerted influence over the Church, convening the Council of Nicaea which formulated the Nicene Creed. His personal life was marked by controversy, including the execution of his family members. Constantine's establishment of Constantinople as the new capital was both a strategic and symbolic move, aiming to shift the empire's center of power. His reign intensified the persecution of Jews but also saw the growth of the city into a major Christian center.

10:02

📚 Legacy and Promotion of Constantine's Rule

The script concludes with a call to action for viewers to learn more about Constantine through a recommended book and a free mythology bundle e-book. It also encourages viewers to engage with the content by liking and subscribing for more historical insights.

Keywords

💡Constantine

Constantine, also known as Constantine the Great, was the Roman Emperor who played a pivotal role in the conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity. His reign marked a significant shift in the religious landscape of the empire, as he not only embraced Christianity but also used his influence to propagate the faith. The video highlights his contributions to the spread of Christianity and the building of Constantinople, which later became Istanbul.

💡Christianity

Christianity is the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. In the context of the video, it is highlighted as the main religion that Constantine adopted and promoted, leading to its widespread acceptance across the Roman Empire. The video discusses how Constantine's support for Christianity led to the Edict of Milan, which legalized the religion and allowed for the freedom of worship.

💡Edict of Milan

The Edict of Milan was a proclamation issued in 313 by Emperor Constantine and Licinius, which granted religious freedom to all citizens of the Roman Empire, effectively legalizing Christianity. The video emphasizes the importance of this edict as it allowed Christians to practice their religion openly and without persecution, marking a turning point in the history of Christianity.

💡Tetrarchy

The Tetrarchy was a system established by Emperor Diocletian, where the Roman Empire was divided into four parts, each ruled by a separate emperor. This division was an attempt to manage the vast empire more effectively. Constantine's father, Constantius I, was one of these rulers, and Constantine himself became emperor after his father's death, as mentioned in the video.

💡Battle of Milvian Bridge

The Battle of Milvian Bridge was a significant military engagement in 312 AD, where Constantine defeated his rival Maxentius. The video describes a vision Constantine had before the battle, which he interpreted as a divine sign to adopt the Christian symbol. This battle is often cited as a turning point in Constantine's life and in the history of Christianity within the Roman Empire.

💡Council of Nicaea

The Council of Nicaea was a council of Christian bishops convened by Constantine in 325 AD. The video discusses how this council aimed to resolve disputes over the nature of Christ's divinity and resulted in the creation of the Nicene Creed, which affirmed Jesus' divine status. This event was crucial in shaping Christian doctrine and consolidating Constantine's influence over the Church.

💡Constantinople

Constantinople, now known as Istanbul, was the new capital established by Constantine in the eastern part of the Roman Empire. The video explains how Constantine rebuilt and rebranded the city to become the 'second Rome,' making it a center of power and a symbol of his commitment to Christianity. The city's growth and the construction of churches there underscored the shift in the empire's religious and cultural focus.

💡Pagan

Pagan refers to a follower of polytheistic religions, which were prevalent in the Roman Empire before the rise of Christianity. The video touches upon the tensions between pagan practices and the growing influence of Christianity under Constantine's rule. It also mentions Constantine's refusal to participate in a pagan procession, highlighting the cultural and religious shifts occurring during his reign.

💡Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed is a statement of faith that was formulated at the Council of Nicaea and affirmed the divinity of Jesus Christ. The video explains that this creed was a significant outcome of the council, as it provided a unified belief system for Christians and helped to solidify Constantine's efforts to promote Christianity throughout the empire.

💡Imperial Propaganda

Imperial propaganda refers to the deliberate dissemination of information by an emperor to shape public opinion and legitimize his rule. The video suggests that some of the historical writings about Constantine might be state propaganda, portraying him in a positive light as a protector of Christianity and a wise ruler. This concept is important for understanding the potential biases in historical sources about Constantine's reign.

Highlights

Constantine is known for making Christianity the main religion of Rome, influencing its spread throughout the known world.

He is revered for building Constantinople, which became the most powerful city in the world.

Constantine was made a saint for his acceptance and propagation of Christianity, despite his brutal and ruthless behavior.

Born into a crisis-ridden Roman Empire, Constantine witnessed Diocletian’s persecution of Christians, possibly influencing his later approach.

Constantine became emperor after his father’s death in 306, starting his quest to consolidate power.

He defeated his rival Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312, attributing his victory to the Christian faith.

Constantine had a vision of Jesus promising protection, leading him to adopt the cross as a symbol.

The Edict of Milan in 313 legalized Christianity and allowed for freedom of worship.

Constantine's victory over Licinius in 324 led to him becoming the sole Roman emperor and reuniting the empire under Christianity.

He attributed his success to Christianity, dubbing himself 'The Equal of the Apostles' and influencing the Church.

Constantine called the Council of Nicaea in 325, which established the Nicene Creed and Jesus' divine nature.

He faced challenges in Rome, refusing to participate in pagan processions and executing family members for treason.

Constantine dedicated his new capital, Constantinople, to glorify the empire and shift power away from Rome.

His reign saw the abolition of crucifixion, sexual immorality, and pagan sacrifices, among other reforms.

Constantine's legacy is linked to the Christianization of Roman culture and the shaping of Western medieval culture.

Contemporary sources on Constantine vary from veneration to criticism, reflecting the polarizing nature of his reforms.

Transcripts

This video is brought to  you by Captivating History. 

Constantine is known as the emperor who  made Christianity the main religion of Rome,  

thus making a substantial contribution to its  spreading throughout the known world at the time.  

He is also revered for his efforts in  building Constantinople, modern-day Istanbul,  

which became the most powerful city in the  world. Made a saint for his acceptance and  

propagation of Christianity, his behavior was  often far from saintly. Brutal and ruthless,  

Constantine owed his power to the sword, murdering  his allies, friends, and even his closest family  

in his quest to retain his authority. A man  of contrasts, his embrace of Christianity was  

nonetheless a decisive act perhaps unparalleled  in its importance to western history. 

Constantine was born into a Roman Empire  that was in crisis. Civil wars, diseases,  

and invasions were rendering the  empire overstretched and vulnerable.  

When he was born in 280 AD, Emperor Diocletian  had split the empire into four quarters  

ruled in a tetrarchy of four different rulers,  hoping that this would help bring order.  

Constantine’s father, Constantius I, was one of  these rulers. In 305, Constantius was proclaimed  

emperor of the western half of the empire, while  Diocletian took the eastern half for himself. 

As a child, Constantine was sent to Nicomedia  (modern-day Izmit, Turkey), grew up in the  

eastern half of the empire, and was raised  at the court of Diocletian. During this time,  

Constantine witnessed Diocletian’s ruthless  and fierce persecution of Christians,  

which may have molded his later approach. Amid the complicated tussle for power,  

Constantine was proclaimed emperor after his  father’s death in 306, in York, Britain. A  

capable and flamboyant soldier, Constantine set  about consolidating his power base in Gaul before  

setting his sights on broader glory. His first  obstacle was a rival for the title of the western  

emperor – his brother-in-law Maxentius – whom he  defeated at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312. 

Not only was this a tremendous  political victory for Constantine,  

but it also proved to be revelationary for  another significant reason. Before the battle,  

Constantine is said to have had a vision or dream  wherein Jesus promised he would protect his armies  

through the vision of the cross accompanied by  the words, “By this sign, you will conquer.”  

Following the vision, Constantine ordered that  a cross – the Christian symbol - be painted on  

all of his soldiers’ shields. There are various  versions to this legend, with slightly different  

variations depending on sources. Regardless of  his conversion circumstances, under this Christian  

emblem, Constantine emerged victoriously,  attributing the victory to the Christian faith.  

It should also be noted that in the classical  Greek and Roman tradition, many rulers expected  

political and military success to derive from  religious piety. This weakens any claim that  

Constantine’s conversion was nothing more  than a politically motivated calculation. 

In 313, Constantine (now a western emperor) met  with his eastern counterpart, Licinius. Together  

they agreed to the Edict of Milan, a  ground-breaking proclamation for freedom  

of worship to all people. This proclamation  effectively legalized Christianity as a religion,  

allowing Christians to organize their worship  as they saw fit. The edict also returned all  

property confiscated during the recent  persecutions - a sign of things to come. 

Although the empire’s western and eastern  halves enjoyed a time of limited peace,  

factionalism was never far away in the Roman  Empire. Relations between Constantine and  

Licinius deteriorated. In 320, Licinius  resumed his persecution of Christians,  

effectively culminating in a renewed civil  war by 324 –in which Constantine triumphed  

to emerge as sole Roman emperor. He reunited  the empire under the banner of Christianity. 

Constantine attributed all of his success to  Christianity, writing that he had been chosen as  

“God’s instrument for the suppression of impiety”  and dubbing himself “The Equal of the Apostles.”  

The triumphal arch built at Rome attributed his  victories to the “inspiration of the Divinity.”  

However, Constantine also ensured that plenty  of credit went to his own military genius. In a  

letter to the Persian king, he asserted that God  had chosen him to bring peace and prosperity to  

all lands and that it was his ambition to do so. Seeing it his duty to propagate the true religion,  

he had no qualms about using his imperial  position to further Christianity's cause.  

Many have questioned Constantine’s  commitment to the faith, though there  

is even more evidence in letters to Christian  clergy that suggest Constantine was sincere.  

Indeed, Eusebius, Constantine’s  biographer and most prominent source,  

insisted that the emperor believed he had a  special relationship with the Christian God. 

In any case, Constantine did his bit to remove  the empire's impiety and unify the state  

through Christianity. Crucifixion, sexual  immorality, prostitution, pagan sacrifice,  

and gladiatorial shows were all abolished. He also  glorified Christianity through his building works.  

The Church of the Holy Apostles was built in  Byzantium, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre  

was erected in Jerusalem. In Rome, the Church  of St Peter was handsomely decorated to reflect  

its importance. In his reign, Constantine also  established influence over the Holy Church itself,  

weighing in on debates over the true nature of  the religion. Wanting a unanimous position on the  

divine nature of Christ, Constantine summoned a  group of church officials to the Council of Nicaea  

in 325. From the meeting came the Nicene Creed,  which established that Jesus was, in fact,  

a divine being. Constantine hoped and urged church  officials to accept the council’s conclusions,  

though violent struggles over the questions raised  continued to cause tension within the empire. 

Although Constantine seems to have been a popular  ruler, he didn’t have everything his way. During a  

visit to Rome to celebrate the 20th anniversary  of his victory and the beginning of his reign,  

Constantine refused to participate in a pagan  procession. This offended the Romans and was  

indicative of the broader religious spectrum still  evident within the empire. Around the same time,  

Constantine had his wife, Fausta, and his son,  Crispus, executed for treason - possibly even  

for adultery. The circumstances surrounding the  executions are shrouded in mystery, though it was  

evidence that Constantine could be as ruthless  as he was practical in dealing with threats. 

After the souring events in Rome, Constantine  was never to return. He set about dedicating  

his new capital – Constantinople – at  Byzantium (now modern-day Istanbul)  

as the “second Rome,” rebuilding it to glorify  the empire. As with many cases for Constantine,  

the decision to move the capital was practical  and emotional. From a military perspective,  

Constantine realized it would be easier to  defend against attacks from the east and  

protect valuable lands in Egypt if he moved his  capital to a more defensible eastern position. 

Constantine rebuilt on a monumental scale.  He offered free bread and full citizenship  

as an enticing welcoming offer to encourage  high-ranking men to move there with their  

families. Churches popped up all over the city  as Christians were naturally welcomed. Yet, it  

should be noted that religious tolerance was not  extended to all – persecution of the Jews – the  

“Christ-killers,” as Constantine saw them –  intensified during his reign. Nevertheless, the  

city tripled in size over this rebuilding period.  Constantine also built huge legislative halls  

and an enormous palace to establish the necessary  gravitas for the new capital. This was a concerted  

attempt to shift the center of power away from  the empire’s emotional heart – Rome. Ultimately,  

Constantinople did eclipse Rome. Rome fell as the  western empire crumbled in the late 5th century,  

and the Byzantine empire – centered around  Constantinople – continued to thrive. 

Constantine died in 337 AD. His legacy is  inextricably linked to his reform of the  

Roman Empire's religious picture, and indeed the  history of Christianity following his conversion.  

Unfortunately, this makes it difficult to assess  his rule more widely, whether or not he was an  

able politician, a great military commander,  or a kind and honorable ruler. Because of  

his reforms' polarizing nature, contemporary  sources must be taken with a pinch of salt.  

Before and after his reign, Christian scholars  venerated him as a protector – a wise,  

guiding hand. Many contemporary sources  represent little more than state propaganda;  

some historical writings are even  thought to be in the emperor’s own hand. 

Conversely, Constantine critics were often  his political enemies, who wished to continue  

following the pagan religion. They were quick  to judge his conversion to Christianity harshly,  

claiming it led to the empire’s downfall  in the long run. Whatever the truth,  

there needs to be a distinction in Constantine’s  legacy. It is not merely the conversion and  

protection of Christianity that is important,  but the Christianization of the Roman culture  

alongside the upper classes' classical  culture. This essentially paved the way  

for the growth of Western medieval  culture in the following centuries.

To learn more about Constantine, then  check out our book, Constantine the Great:  

A Captivating Guide to the First Christian  Roman Emperor and How He Ruled the Roman Empire 

It’s available as an e-book, paperback,  and audiobook. Also, grab your free  

mythology bundle e-book for free while still  available. All links are in the description.  

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