The ascension of Constantine as new emperor Rome AD 600 in late antiquity begins with the Emperorship of Rome in the early fourth century, and continues until the middle ages.
Generally dated as lasting to the late sixth century and the re-conquests of Justinian. Some scholars use a traditional date of 476 in which Romulus Augustus,was considered the last western emperor who was deposed.
Galerius, once a leading figure in the persecutions of Christians, issued an edict permitting the practice of the Christian religion under his rule April 311. Emperor Constantine I played an active role in the leadership of the Church. In 313, he issued the Edict of Milan, legalizing Christian worship. In the Edict of Milan it was Constantine I and Licinius who announced toleration of Christianity. Emperor Constantine I mother Helena exposed him to Christianity. It has been said and recorded that Constantine experienced an event in 312 at the Battle of Milvian Bridge. According to these sources, Constantine looked up to the sun before the battle and saw a cross of light above it, and with it the Greek words "ΕΝ ΤΟΥΤΩ ΝΙΚΑ" ("by this, conquer!", Constantine commanded his troops to adorn their shields with a Christian symbol and they were victorious. He was also the first emperor to promote the newly legalized Christian religion. Therefore giving the emperor Constantine the title of the first Christian emperor. Christianity become the state religion by the year 391, under the reign of Theodosius I.
There were still a practice of paganism but the accession of Constantine to the throne was a turning point for the Christian Church.
Constantine did a lot to support the Church financially, building basilicas, granted privileges like tax exemptions to clergy, gave promotions to Christians to high ranking offices, he also returned property confiscated during the Great Persecution of emperor Diocletian. Within the years 324 and 330, Constantine built, a new imperial capital at Byzantium on the Bosphorus, is known to bear his name as Constantinople. It was a city of Christian churches and contained no pagan temples. Emperor Constantine was baptized on his deathbed. This is the origins of the Catholic Roman Church in which later on a Pope was created as head of the church.
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