Which Roman Emperor Legalized Christianity? Constantine’s Conversion
Are you wondering which Roman Emperor legalized Christianity? You are not alone! Most Christians don’t even know.
Constantine I (also known as Constantine the Great) was the first emperor to legalize Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. Before that Christianity was outlawed and Christians were persecuted. Constantine was raised a pagan. So that raises the question – why did he do it?
I have spent over 10 years exploring historic Christian destinations around the world. And I have studied ancient Rome, the early church, and Constantine’s legalization of Christianity.
This blog will explain Constantine’s decision to legalize Christianity. And it will explore the cultural, political, and religious situation in Rome at the time. As well as Emperor Constantine’s life, background, and rise to power. Read on to learn more about this world shaking event!
Who is Emperor Constantine?
Emperor Constantine was the Emperor of Rome from 306-337 A.D. He is most famous for 3 things:
1) Legalizing Christianity.
2) His mother Helena’s discovery of major Christian sites and artifacts.
3) Moving the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Constantinople (modern day Istanbul).
Childhood
Constantine I was born in Naissus (modern-day Serbia) in 272 A.D. His father Constantius was a Roman army officer who briefly became emperor. His mother Helena was a commoner of Greek descent who became a major figure in Christianity.
As was common at the time, Constantine was raised a pagan. Starting with the death of Julius Caesar in 44 B.C., most Roman emperors were considered gods and were worshipped in temples.
Rise to Power
In 293 A.D. Emperor Diocletian instituted a 4-person “Tetrarchy” to rule the Roman Empire. Diocletian was to rule the eastern provinces and Maximian would rule the western provinces. Galerius and Constantius served as junior rulers.
The system worked great in 305 A.D. when both Diocletian and Maximian retired and Galerius and Constantius took their respective places.
However, when Constantius died the following year his army unilaterally declared his son Constantine emperor of the western empire. (Despite the fact that Constantine was not a member of the Tetrarchy). This resulted in a series of civil wars between Constantine and his rivals that lasted 18 years.
Roman Persecution of Christians
Starting from the time of Jesus’ death in 33 A.D., Christianity was banned in the Roman Empire. Sadly, for the next 300 years Christians were periodically crucified, thrown to wild animals, or burned alive as living torches.
There are 2 main reasons the Romans persecuted Christians:
1) They were considered a political threat to Roman rule. Jesus proclaimed himself Lord: a title used only for emperors
2) They refused to worship Roman gods, including the emperors
Sadly, there is a long list of Roman Emperors who persecuted Christians. Nero was the most sadistic – throwing Christians to wild animals in the Roman Colosseum. After most of Rome burned in 64 A.D., he famously blamed Christians. And Diocletian was the first to instigate an empire wide persecution.
Rise of Christianity
Despite being forbidden by law, Christianity spread like wildfire among the lower classes in Rome. After Jesus’ death, his disciples and the Apostle Paul were instrumental in spreading the gospel.
People welcomed the Gospel (or “good news”) because it preached a message of love, freedom, equality, and liberation from oppression. Which was exactly the opposite of what was expected by the pagan gods that the Romans worshipped.
Why did Constantine Convert to Christianity?
Emperor Constantine’s conversion took place at a major historical event.
The final battle of the 18-year Roman Civil War took place in October 312 A.D. between Emperor Constantine and Emperor Maxentius. Known as the Battle of Milvian Bridge, it took place on a bridge in Rome over the Tiber River.
The night before the battle, Constantine and his troops miraculously saw a cross in the sky with the words “By this sign, conquer.” This was later documented by Constantine’s chosen biographer Bishop Eusebius. The Life of Constantine is available on Amazon.
The next day, during the battle Maxentius fell into the river and drowned. Constantine emerged victorious and became the undisputed Emperor of the western half of the Roman Empire. He gave credit for his victory to the Christina God, whom he saw in the vision and prayed to throughout the battle.
As a sidenote, by 324 A.D. Constantine emerged victorious as the sole Emperor of a unified Roman Empire.
Why did Constantine Legalize Christianity?
Some people think that Emperor Constantine chose to legalize Christianity because he accepted Jesus as his Savior and wanted to end the persecution of Christians.
However, others think he did it for political reasons. Christianity was becoming popular and Constantine wanted to expand his power by unifying Rome. That would explain why he legalized all religions – not just Christianity. And why he did not proclaim Christianity as the national religion.
On a related subject, Constantine famously got baptized on his deathbed. Some people think this is proof that he was NOT a Christian believer during his lifetime.
However, it was common for people to get baptized on their deathbeds at the time. Because instead of seeing baptism a a symbol of faith, they saw it as a ritual that literally washed away your sins. Therefore, they wanted to get baptized right before they died before they had a chance to sin again!
When did Emperor Constantine Legalize Christianity?
Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in 313 A.D. – one year after his miraculous conversion at the Battle of Milvian Bridge,
Constantine – along with Eastern Emperor Licinius – issued the Edict of Milan, which banned persecution of all religions, including Christianity. Once Christianity became decriminalized, it quickly became the dominant religion throughout the empire.
Some people mistakenly think that Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. That is not correct. That honor goes to Emperor Theodosius.
In 391 A.D. Theodosius issued the Edict of Thessalonica, which made Nicene Christianity the official religion of the empire and outlawed all pagan worship.
Constantine’s Influence on Christianity Today
Emperor Constantine is not mentioned in the Bible. He was born in 272 A.D, which is 239 years after Jesus’ death.
However, one could argue that Constantine did more to spread the gospel then most people in the Bible. And he had a huge impact on Christian doctrine.
The Nicene Creed
In 325 A.D. Emperor Constantine called the First Council of Nicaea. (Present day İznik, Turkey). The resulting Nicene Creed proclaimed:
1) There is one God who exists in 3 persons.
2) God is the creator of all things.
3) Jesus is the son of God.
Most Christians will recognize the words. (I grew up in the Greek Orthodox Church and I recited them every Sunday!)
Emperor Constantine’s Mother Helena
Constantine’s mother Helena is as famous as he is. An official Catholic saint, her tomb is displayed prominently in the Vatican.
In 326 A.D. Emperor Constantine famously Helena to the Holy Land to search for Christian relics.
She founded the two most holy sites in Christianity – the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The most noteworthy item that Helena discovered was part of the cross that Jesus was crucified on.
Founding of Constantinople
Legalizing Christianity is not the only thing Constantine is famous for. In 330 A.D. he moved the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Byzantium (modern-day Istanbul, Turkey). He renamed the city Constantinople, which means “Constantine’s city” in Greek.
Constantine chose Byzantium as his capital for 3 reasons:
1) It was located at the center of the Roman Empire.
2) It was strategically situated on a peninsula and had an excellent harbor for trade.
3) It had an excellent harbor.
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman Empire for more than 1,000 years, remaining the largest and richest city of the Byzantine Empire during the Middle Ages.
Great Palace of Constantinople
When Emperor Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire to Constantinople, he built a magnificent palace called the “Great Palace.” It was the home of Roman/Byzantine Emperors until 1081 when they moved to the Palace of Blachernae.
In 1453, the Muslim Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople. As is often the case, the conquerors built on top of the conquered.
The Ottomans built the most famous mosque in the world – the Sultan Ahmet or Blue Mosque – on top of the Great Palace ruins.
Sadly, all that is left of the Great Palace are the remnants of some tiled Roman floors. Visitors can view them at the Great Palace Mosaics Museum.
Constantine’s Arch in Rome
Fans of Emperor Constantine will be happy to know they can visit Constantine’s Arch in Rome. It was built in 315 A.D. to commemorate Constantine’s victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge.
The Romans built arches to honor an important person or event. Constantine’s Arch is the largest Roman triumphal arch ever built. Victorious Roman emperors and generals would march through the arch as they entered Rome in triumphal processions.
The arch is still landing. It is located between the Roman Colosseum and Palatine Hill.
FAQs – Roman Emperor Constantine
There are a lot of questions swirling around Emperor Constantine. Below are the most frequently asked questions I hear when talking about Constantine legalizing Christianity.
Did Emperor Constantine speak Greek?
Yes, Emperor Constantine was known to speak Greek. He was likely bilingual, speaking both Latin and Greek, which were the two primary languages used in the administration of the Roman Empire during his reign.
What if Constantine had never converted to Christianity?
If Constantine had not embraced Christianity, the dominance and shaping influence of Christianity in Western history might have been notably different. The influence and prominence of Christianity might have been delayed or altered. Which might have impacted the development of the religious, cultural, and political landscapes of Europe today.
Why Did Constantine convert to Christianity?
A combination of political, personal, and strategic factors likely influenced Constantine’s conversion to Christianity. According to historical accounts, the vision of a Christian symbol accompanied by the message “in hoc signo vinces” (“by this sign, thou shalt conquer”), and the desire for unity within the empire were primary motivations.
Was Emperor Constantine a Pagan?
Before his conversion to Christianity, Emperor Constantine followed the traditional Roman pagan religious practices commonly observed at the time. His family was part of the pagan cult of Sol Invictus (God of the Unconquered Sun).
Who were the co-emperors of Rome during Constantine’s reign?
During Constantine’s reign, he had several co-emperors who held the title of Augustus or Caesar. Some notable co-emperors included Maximian (from 306 to 308), Galerius (from 305 to 311), Licinius (from 308 to 324), and his sons Crispus and Constantine II.
Did Constantine start the Catholic Church?
No, Emperor Constantine did not start the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church began with Jesus Christ in the first century A.D. However, Constantine was responsible for both the Edict of Milan and the Council of Nicea, which laid the bedrock for the Catholic Church to form and grow.
Final Thoughts: Emperor Constantine & Christianity
So there’s your answer for which Roman Emperor legalized Christianity – it was Emperor Constantine. This had a ripple effect throughout history.
The story of how this happened is quite fascinating, and there are so many incredible places around modern-day Italy, Israel, Greece, and Turkey that can help you learn even more about Emperor Constantine and the early church.
Constantine founded Constantinople, which was officially renamed Istanbul in 1930. It is one of my favorite cities in the world. You can tour the remnants of Constantine’s palace and the Hagia Sophia. Located across from the palace, it was the largest cathedral in the world for 1,000 years. Check out my Top things to do in Istanbul – The Capital of 3 Empires blog to learn more!
