Constantine the Great

Names:
27 February 272: Gaius Flavius Valerius Constantinus 
25 July 306: Flavius Valerius Constantinus Caesar Herculius 
Summer 307: Imperator Constantinus Augustus 
22 May 337: natural death

Successor of: Constantius I Chlorus

Relatives:

1. father: Constantius I Chlorus
2. mother: Helen
3. first wife: Minervina
1. son: Crispus
4. second wife: Fausta (daughter of Maximianus)
1. sons: Constantinus II, Constantius II, Constans
2. daughters: Constantina, Helena

The road to power:

• 306 Present during his father's campaign against the Picts; when Constantius dies, the soldiers of the Sixth legion Victrix proclaim Constantine emperor; he is recognized as caesar by the eastern emperors Galerius an Maximinus Daia; at the same time, Maxentius usurps power in Italy, but is not recognized
• 307 Constantine crosses the North Sea and attacks the Franks (accepts the title Germanicus Maximus?); return to Britain (?); visits Trier, where he is recognized by Maximianus too, who has returned from retirement; Constantine marries Fausta, daughter of Maximianus; both men recognize each other as consul, but this is later ignored
• 308 War against the Bructeri (accepts the title Germanicus Maximus II?); Constantine recognized by the emperors who have gathered in Carnuntum; Maximianus resigns and stays in Constantine's territories; Licinius appointed as emperor; Maxentius loses Africa to Lucius Domitius Alexander
• 309 Consul (with Licinius)
• 309/310: Vision
• 310 War against the Franks; Maximianus provokes a new rebellion, is captured, and commits suicide; Maxentius recovers Africa
• 311 Galerius puts an end to the persecution of Christian and dies soon after; Maximinus Daia occupies Asia Minor; growing tensions with Licinius, who allies himself to Constantine; Licinius and Constantine's sister Constantia engaged
• 312 Consul II (with Licinius II); Constantine crosses the Alps, attacks and defeats the usurper Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge
• 313 Consul III (with Licinius III); meeting of Licinius and Constantine (Edict of Milan); Licinius defeats his rival Maximinus Daia on the Campus Serenus near Adrianopel; Constantine in Britain
• 314 Brief conflict with Licinius
• 315 Consul IV (with Licinius IV); Constantine defeats the Sarmatians and Visigoths; visit to Rome; Arch of Constantine
• 316 Constantine decides against the Donatists; birth of Constantinus II
• 317 Constantine and Licinius declare their sons Crispus, Constantinus II, and Licinius Junior caesares; birth of Constantius II
• 318 Crispus consul (with Licinius V)
• 319 Consul V (with Licinius Junior)
• 320 Consul VI (with Constantinus II); birth of Constans (or 323)
• 321 Crispus consul II (with Constantinus II consul II); Constantine grants tolerance to the Donatists
• 321, 7 March: Law to proclaim Sunday, "the venerable day of the Sun", as a day of rest
• 322 Defeats the Sarmatians
• 323 War against the Visigoths; accepts the title Sarmaticus Maximus III

Sole ruler

• 324 Crispus consul III (with Constantinus II consul III); war with Licinius; Crispus commands the navy and defeats Licinius' admiral Amandus; Licinius himself is defeated near Adrianopel and (18 September 324) Chrysopolis, resigns, and is exiled to Thessalonica; Constantius II made caesar; foundation of Constantinople
• 325 Execution of Licinius
• 325, 20 May - 19 June: First Ecumenical Council, at Nicea
• 326 Consul VII (with Constantius II)
• 326, February: fall and death of Crispus; execution of Fausta
• Visit to Rome; vicennalia; the empress-mother Helen to Jerusalem
• 326, 18 November: Dedication of St. Peter's basilica
• 327 Second gathering of the Council of Nicea
• 327 Helena in Jerusalem
• 328 War against the Visigoths; accepts the title Gothicus Maximus II; Constantinus II directs a war against the Alamans
• 329 Consul VIII (with Constantinus II consul IV); death of Helena; war against the Visigoths; accepts the title Germanicus Maximus IV
• 330 Constantinople made imperial residence
• 332 Constantinus II defeats the Visigoths
• 333 Revolt of Colocaerus on Cyprus
• 334 Sarmatians expelled from the empire; Delmatius suppresses the revolt of Colocaerus
• 335 Tricennalia; Delmatius proclaimed caesar; Hannibalianus made king of the Pontic nations
• 336 Accepts the title Dacicus Maximus
• 337 Easter celebrated in Constantinople; Delmatius assassinated; Persian embassy; baptism; death

Buildings:

• Rome: Santa Costanza (= mausoleum of Constantina); Arch of Constantine; Basilica of Constantine; Baths of Constantine; Baths of Helena; Saint Peter's basilica; Saint John's basilica; Saint Paul's basilica
• Arles: Baths of Constantine
• Trier: Basilica
• Constantinople: Great palace; walls (finished by Theodosius II); Church of Divine Peace; Binbirderek cistern; Column of Constantine; hippodrome
• Bethlehem: Church of the Nativity
• Jerusalem: Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Contemporary events:

• 313 Council of Rome condemns Donatism
• 314 Council of Arles
• 320 Death of Lactantius
• 325 Council of Nicea condemns Arianism
• 328 Athanasius bishop of Alexandria
• 332 Death of Gregory the Illuminator
• 335 Athanasius bannished to Trier
• 335, 31 December Death of pope Sylvester
• 336 Death of Arius