Constantine "The Great"

Flavius Valerius Constantinus, who became known as "Constantine The Great", was the first Roman Emperor to embrace Christianity and implement major change during his reign. He moved the capitol of his Empire from the city of Rome itself to a strategic location on the edge of the Black Sea, called Byzantium, the current location of the modern city known as Istanbul, Turkey. The mighty ruler changed the name of the city to Constantinople after himself. Constantine's personal religious beliefs have been a topic of speculation and intrigue since the 4th Century. Some historians believe that the Emperor Constantine had a dramatic conversion to Christianity early in his life during his rule over the empire, and in another opposing point of view, others believe he experienced his absolute conversion to Christianity on his deathbed in 337 AD. What we do know for sure is that in 313 AD, issuing the "Edict of Milan," there was a professed tolerance of the formerly punishable Christian faith throughout the Empire. What starts with Constantine, as the first Christian Roman Emperor, goes much further in later years when Jesus Christ is depicted on coinage of the Empire, unified by Christianity, well after the collapse of Rome.