<sod>  
 Constantine's adoption of Christianity seems to have stemmed from both his family (Helena was probably born a Christian) and from a major battle he won in 312 near Rome, the [[Battle of Milvian Bridge]]. Constantine credited his victory to the Christian God and converted not long afterwards. That victory made him Western Augustus, or ruler of the entire western half of the empire. In [[324]], he became sole emperor after winning a power struggle with the eastern ruler, [[Licinius]].
 
Although he earned his honorific of "The Great" from Christian historians long after he had died, he could have claimed the title on his military achievements alone. In addition to reuniting the empire under one emperor, Constantine also won major victories over the Marcomanni and [[Alamanni]] (306-08), the [[Vandals]] and Marcomanni (314-15), the [[Visigoths]] in [[332]] and the Sarmatians two years later. In fact, by [[336]], Constantine had actually reoccupied most of the long-lost province of [[Dacia]], which [[Aurelian]] had been forced to abandon in [[273]]. At the time of his death, he was planning a great expedition to put an end to raids on the eastern provinces from [[Persia]] by conquering that nation--something no Emperor since [[Trajan]] had contemplated.
 
 He was succeeded by his three sons, [[Constantine II of the Roman Empire|Constantine II]], [[Constantius II]] and [[Constans]].  The last member of his dynasty was his grandson, [[Julian]], who attempted to restore paganism.
 
See also [[Roman Empire]], [[Roman Emperors]], [[Byzantine Empire]] and [[Byzantine Emperors]].
 <eod> <sod> 
 Constantine's adoption of Christianity seems to have stemmed from both his family (Helena was probably born a Christian) and from a major battle he won in 312 near Rome, the [[Battle of Milvian Bridge]]. Constantine credited his victory to the Christian God and converted not long afterwards. That victory made him Western Augustus, or ruler of the entire western half of the empire. In [[324]], he became sole emperor after winning a power struggle with the eastern ruler, [[Licinius]].
 
Although he earned his honorific of "The Great" from Christian historians long after he had died, he could have claimed the title on his military achievements alone. In addition to reuniting the empire under one emperor, Constantine also won major victories over the Marcomanni and [[Alamanni]] (306-08), the [[Vandals]] and Marcomanni (314-15), the [[Visigoths]] in [[332]] and the Sarmatians two years later. In fact, by [[336]], Constantine had actually reoccupied most of the long-lost province of [[Dacia]], which [[Aurelian]] had been forced to abandon in [[271]]. At the time of his death, he was planning a great expedition to put an end to raids on the eastern provinces from [[Persia]] by conquering that nation--something no Emperor since [[Trajan]] had contemplated.
 
 He was succeeded by his three sons, [[Constantine II of the Roman Empire|Constantine II]], [[Constantius II]] and [[Constans]].  The last member of his dynasty was his grandson, [[Julian]], who attempted to restore paganism.
 
See also [[Roman Empire]], [[Roman Emperors]], [[Byzantine Empire]] and [[Byzantine Emperors]]. <eod>