who was constantine

Constantine, also known as Constantine the Great, was a Roman emperor who ruled from AD 306 to 337. He is most famous for being the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, dramatically changing the course of Roman and European history. Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, which granted religious tolerance to Christians and ended their persecution in the Empire. Additionally, he founded the city of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), which became the new capital of the Roman Empire and remained a significant city for over a millennium. His reign marked a major turning point in the Christianization of the Roman Empire, and he played a key role in shaping its political and religious landscape.