Costantine
Costantine was elected emperor by his soldiers without respec for the tetrarchia, leading to
a war which ended six years later with the battle of Ponte Milvio (312) in
which he defeated his rival Massenzius.
Costantine was the author of a great event, he promulged the Edict of Milan in 313,
with which he recognized the right to profess the Christian religion and put a definite
end to the persecutions. Another event was the foundation of a new town: Costantinople.
It rose on the Bosphorus on the site of the ancient greek colony of Byzantium. It was
inaugurated with a big feast in 330 when it became the Oriental capital of the Roman
Empire. As to politics he accepted the reform of Diocletian, even though he ruled as sole
emperor having killed his collegue Licinius.
Designed by Città dei Ragazzi (Boys' Town of Rome) - 1996 ©
