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Constantine (CAIUS FLAVIUS VALERIUS)

CAIUS FLAVIUS 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 possession 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 Maxentius, 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 inscription, "In hoc signo vinces." Under the standard of the cross, therefore, he vanquished the army of Maxentius under 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 Christians, and subsequently declared Christianity 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 Empire. His internal administration was marked by a wise spirit of reform, and by many humane concessions with regard to slaves, etc. In 329 he laid the foundation of a new capital of the empire, 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, Constantine, Constantius, and Constans. CONSTANTINE II., called the younger, eldest son of the above, received, as his share of the empire, on the death of his father, Gaul, Spain, and Britain. Being desirous, however, of possessing himself of the territory of his brother Constans, he was killed in Italy, in 340.

CONSTANTINE III. (Novus), born in 612 A. D.; died in 641.

CONSTANTINE IV., Emperor of the East, surnamed POGONATUS, or the Bearded, was son of Constans II., whom CONSTANTINE XI. he succeeded in 668. His two brothers, Tiberius and Heraclius, shared the title of Augustus, but had little or no share in the government, and toward the close of his reign, Constantine IV., under the influence of suspicion, had them put to death. Constantinople was unsuccessfully attacked by the Mussulmans in 672- 678. During these wars the famous "Greek fire" was invented. Constantine died in 685.

CONSTANTINE V., Emperor of the East, succeeded his father, Leo the Isaurian, in 743. He sided with the Iconoclasts, who hurled down the images of the saints, and persecuted the followers of the Roman Catholic Church. He died in an expedition against the Bulgarians in 775. CONSTANTINE VI., Emperor of the East, was the son of Leo IV., whom he succeeded in 780. Being only 10 old when his father died, his mother Irene was his guardian and regent of the empire. After arriving at the mature age he wished to assume the government himself; but Irene had him imprisoned.

He escaped in 790, exiled his mother, recalled her, and, finally, ruined by his licentious living, and despised by his subjects, a conspiracy was formed against him, Irene leading; and being imprisoned, his eyes were put out by her orders. The blind prince died in 797. mother, refinally, ruined ined by his CONSTANTINE VII., was named emperor in 868, during the lifetime of his father, Basilius I., but died in 878.

CONSTANTINE VIII., surnamed Porphyrogenitus, Emperor of the East, succeeded Leo the Wise in 905. He was destitute of energy, and devoted himself chiefly to study. He admitted colleagues to the throne, so that at last five emperors were reigning together. Constantine VIII. left a treatise on state affairs, a geography of the empire, and the "Life of the Emperor Basilius, the Macedonian." He died in 959. CONSTANTINE IX., son of Romanus I., reigned with his father and two brothers, from 919 to 945, during the time that Porphyrogenitus was deposed.

CONSTANTINE X., son of Romanus II., succeeded John Zemisces, and was proclaimed emperor of the East, with his brother, Basilius II., who held the principal authority till 1025, when he died. Constantine X. was, after that, sole emperor. He died in 1028. CONSTANTINE XI., surnamed the Gladiator, obtained the empire in 1042, having married the Empress Zoe, widow of Romanus III. This prince is known CONSTANTINE XII. alone for his debaucheries. He allowed the Turks to increase their territories at his expense, and to establish themselves in Persia.

CONSTANTINE XII., surnamed Ducas, succeeded, in 1059, Isaac Comnenus, who had adopted him. In his reign the Scythians ravaged the empire, and some cities were destroyed by earthquakes. He died in 1067.

CONSTANTINE XIII., the last of the Greek emperors, succeeded to the throne in 1448. He was killed in bravely defending Constantinople against Mahomet II., who in 1453 besieged the city with 300,000 men. Constantine displayed great valor, but the city was taken and thus ended the Greek empire.