Constantine the Great
Constantine the Great was a Roman Emperor who ruled from 306 to 337 AD. He is widely considered as one of the most influential figures in Western history, as his reign marked a decisive turning point in the decline of the Western Roman Empire and the beginning of the Byzantine Empire. Constantine was born in the city of Naissus, present-day Niš in Serbia, in 272 AD. He was the son of Flavius Valerius Constantius, a Roman army officer, and Helena, who later became known for her piety and was venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Constantine rose to prominence as a military leader and was appointed as Caesar, the deputy emperor, by his father. After his father's death, Constantine fought a series of civil wars to secure his own claim to the throne, eventually emerging victorious. One of Constantine's most famous acts was his conversion to Christianity, which he did after a vision he had before the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 AD. He then issued the Edict of Mila...