CONSTANTINE, CAP'S ELAVIUS VALERIUS AURELIUS CLAUDIUS, a Roman emperor, surnamed the Great; son of the Emperor Constantine Chlorus; born 274 A. D. After the death of his father he was chosen emperor by the soldiery, in the year 306, and took posses sion of the countries which had been subject to his father, namely, Gaul, Spain, and Britain. He defeated the Franks who had obtained a footing in Gaul and drove them across the Rhine; and then directed his arms against Max entius, who had joined Maximian against him. In the campaign in Italy he saw, it is said, the vision of a flaming cross in the heavens, bearing the in scription, "In hoc signo vinces." Under the standard of the cross, therefore, he vanquished the army of Maxentius un der the walls of Rome, and entered the city in triumph. In 313, together with his son-in-law, the Eastern emperor, Licinius, he published the memorable edict of toleration in favor of the Chris tians, and subsequently declared Chris tianity the religion of the state. Licinius
twice took up arms against him, but was on each occasion defeated, and finally put to death. Thus in 325 Constantine became the sole head of the Roman Em pire. His internal administration was marked by a wise spirit of reform and by many humane concessions with re gard to slaves, etc. In 329 he laid the foundation of a new capital of the em pire, at Byzantium, which was called after him Constantinople, and soon rivaled Rome herself. In 332 he fought successfully against the Goths, relieving the empire of a tribute previously paid the barbarians. In 337 he was taken ill near Nicomedia, was baptized, and died after a reign of 31 years, leaving his empire between his three sons, Constan tine, Constantius, and Constans.