Shpetim Lezi

Constantine the Great Shpetim Lezi

Constantine, surnamed "the Great" was one of the greatest emperors of the Roman Empire, one of the greatest Illyrians who ever lived. He was the oldest son of Emperor Constantius Chlorus and was born in 272 at Naissus of Moesia in eastern Illyricum. He fought beside his father who was killed at the fatel battle of York. Constantine became a Caesar (306) then an augustus (308). It was on his way to the crucial battle of Rome's Milvian Bridge that he saw a vision of a luminous cross in the sky and the words "There's Victory in This Sign", from which he dated his conversion to Christianity in 312. Fighting against the one remaining emperor, Licinius, he gained control of Illyricum, Macedonia, and Achaia (314). In 324, he remained the sole emperor of the Roman Empire. Early in his career, he issued his famous Edict to stop the persecution of Christians initially and then to favour Christianity. In 325, he convened the Christian Council of Nicea attended by a great number of bishops of the Roman Empire. Possibly to symbolize his break with Rome's pagan past, Constantine left Rome in 326. He removed the seat of Empire to Byzantium which he renamed Constantinople after himself, dedicating it in 330s. In his new organization of the empire, Illyricum formed one of the great provinces. Constantine was baptized by the church historian Eusebius shortly before his death in 337. His three sons Constantine, Constantius, and Constans succeeded their father, the latter inheriting Illyricum, Italy, and Africa.