What was an accomplishment of the emperor Constantine?

Answer 1

Even though Constantine is remembered for his legalizing of the Christian religion, it was not his main accomplishment. His main accomplishment was overcoming his opponents and becoming sole ruler of the empire.

Even though Constantine is remembered for his legalizing of the Christian religion, it was not his main accomplishment. His main accomplishment was overcoming his opponents and becoming sole ruler of the empire.

Even though Constantine is remembered for his legalizing of the Christian religion, it was not his main accomplishment. His main accomplishment was overcoming his opponents and becoming sole ruler of the empire.

Even though Constantine is remembered for his legalizing of the Christian religion, it was not his main accomplishment. His main accomplishment was overcoming his opponents and becoming sole ruler of the empire.

Even though Constantine is remembered for his legalizing of the Christian religion, it was not his main accomplishment. His main accomplishment was overcoming his opponents and becoming sole ruler of the empire.

Even though Constantine is remembered for his legalizing of the Christian religion, it was not his main accomplishment. His main accomplishment was overcoming his opponents and becoming sole ruler of the empire.

Even though Constantine is remembered for his legalizing of the Christian religion, it was not his main accomplishment. His main accomplishment was overcoming his opponents and becoming sole ruler of the empire.

Even though Constantine is remembered for his legalizing of the Christian religion, it was not his main accomplishment. His main accomplishment was overcoming his opponents and becoming sole ruler of the empire.

Even though Constantine is remembered for his legalizing of the Christian religion, it was not his main accomplishment. His main accomplishment was overcoming his opponents and becoming sole ruler of the empire.

Answer 2

One of the accomplishments of Constantine the Great was to become the sole Roman Emperor. Initially he was a co-emperor in charge of Britannia, Gaul and Hispania. He became sole emperor by winning two civil wars. One was against Maxentius, a usurper emperor in Italy (in 312) and the other was against Licinius, the co-emperor in charge of the eastern part of the Roman Empire.

It is sometimes said that Constantine the Great legalised Christianity or that ended the Great Persecution of the Christians with the edict of Milan of 313. The former is wrong. The latter is inaccurate. Christianity was never made illegal. It was persecuted but not actually banned. Constantine completed the termination of the Great Persecution which had started in 303. This process was started by the Edict of Toleration by (emperor) Galerius in 311 which decreed the end of the persecution and guaranteed freedom and the right to be safe to the Christians. The Edict of Milan issued by Co-Emperors Constantine and Licinius reiterated the toleration of Christianity and provided for compensation for the restitution of Christian property which has been confiscated during the persecution. This edict was aimed at stopping a junior emperor who continued the persecution in Syria and Egypt, disregarding Galerius' edict. This is why it is more accurate to say that Constantine completed the termination of the Great Persecution, which was an accomplishment.

Constantine moved the capital of the eastern part of the Roman Empire from Nicomedia (in northwestern Turkey) to the nearby Byzantium, which he redeveloped, renamed Constantinople (city of Constantine) and inaugurated in 330. This new capital was given titles such as "The New, second Rome,' 'Eastern Rome,' 'Alma Roma,' and 'Roma Constantinopolitana.' Propaganda-wise the new capital symbolised the new dawn of the Roman Empire which Constantine rule would usher in.

Constantine supported the Christians. He promoted Christians to high offices in the imperial administration. He built the first Christian churches, most notably, the original Basilica of St Peter's in Rome, the St John Lateran's Basilica (the city of Rome's first Cathedral and the original residence of the Popes), the Church of the Holy Apostles and the Hagia Eirene in Constantinople and Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in Jerusalem. He arbitrated disputes between rival Christian doctrines.

One of the greatest achievements of Constantine was to resolve the problem of hyperinflation which had plagued the Roman Empire for a long time and had cause a sharp economic decline. He did so by scrapping the silver coins, amassing vast quantities of gold and issuing new gold coins. These gold coins proved to be viable and stabilised inflation. However, it benefitted only people who could afford to buy gold coins. The poor continued to make do with copper token coins which were highly vulnerable to inflation.

It has to be noted that while Constantine supported the Christians, he retained his title of Pontifex Maximus (the high priest of Roman state religion) throughout his life. He also continued to worship the god Sol Invictus. In 321 he instructed Christians and non-Christians to observe the venerable day of the sun (Sol Invictus), the day of the cult of sun-worship.

Answer 3

Even though Constantine is remembered for his legalizing of the Christian religion, it was not his main accomplishment. His main accomplishment was overcoming his opponents and becoming sole ruler of the empire.