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Constantine the Great

272 CE – 337 CE

Retrace Constantine the Great's life across the map — 14 events in chronological order, from a cinematic flythrough to a full timeline.

Life journey

1. German and Sarmatian campaigns of Constantine306 CE
   The German and Sarmatian campaigns of Constantine were fought by the Roman Emperor Constantine I against the neighbouring Germanic peoples, including the Franks, Alemanni and Goths, as well as the Sarmatian Iazyges, along the whole Roman northern defensive system to protect the empire's borders, between 306 and 336.
2. Siege of Segusio312 CE
   The siege of Segusio or siege of Susa was the first clash of the civil war between the Roman emperors Constantine the Great and Maxentius in the spring of 312. In that year, Maxentius had declared war on Constantine, claiming to intend to avenge the death of his father Maximian, who had committed suicide after being defeated by him. Constantine would respond with an invasion of northern Italy.
3. Battle of Verona312 CE
   The Battle of Verona was fought in 312 between the forces of the Roman emperors Constantine I and Maxentius. Maxentius' forces were defeated, and Ruricius Pompeianus, the most senior Maxentian commander, was killed in the fighting.
4. Battle of the Milvian Bridge312 CE
   The Battle of the Milvian Bridge took place between the Roman Emperors Constantine I and Maxentius on 28 October AD 312. It takes its name from the Milvian Bridge, an important route over the Tiber. Constantine won the battle and started on the path that led him to end the Tetrarchy and become the sole ruler of the Roman Empire. Maxentius drowned in the Tiber during the battle; his body was later taken from the river and decapitated, and his head was paraded through the streets of Rome on the day following the battle before being sent to Africa.
5. Battle of Brescia312 CE
   The Battle of Brescia was a confrontation that took place during the summer of 312, between the Roman emperors Constantine the Great and Maxentius in the town of Brescia, in northern Italy. Maxentius declared war on Constantine on the grounds that he wanted to avenge the death of his father Maximian, who had committed suicide after being defeated by him. Constantine would respond with a massive invasion of Italy.
6. Battle of Turin312 CE
   The Battle of Turin was fought in 312 between Roman emperor Constantine the Great and the troops of his rival Maxentius. Constantine won the battle, showing an early example of the tactical skill which was to characterise his later military career. The campaign ended with his more famous victory at the Milvian Bridge immediately outside of Rome.
7. Battle of Cibalae314 CE
   The Battle of Cibalae was fought in 316 between the two Roman emperors Constantine I and Licinius. The site of the battle, near the town of Cibalae in the Roman province of Pannonia Secunda, was approximately 350 kilometers within the territory of Licinius. Constantine won a resounding victory, despite being outnumbered.
8. Battle of Mardia316 CE
   The Battle of Mardia, also known as Battle of Campus Mardiensis or Battle of Campus Ardiensis, was fought in late 316/early 317 between the forces of Roman Emperors Constantine I and Licinius. Its location was probably modern Harmanli (Bulgaria) in Thrace.
9. Battle of Adrianople (324)324 CE
   The Battle of Adrianople was fought in Thrace on July 3, 324, during a Roman civil war, the second to be waged between the two emperors Constantine I and Licinius. Licinius was soundly defeated and his army suffered heavy casualties. Constantine built up military momentum, winning further battles on land and sea, eventually leading to the final defeat of Licinius at Chrysopolis.
10. Battle of the Hellespont324 CE
    The Battle of the Hellespont, consisting of two separate naval clashes, was fought in 324 between a Constantinian fleet, led by the eldest son of Constantine I, Crispus; and a larger fleet under Licinius' admiral, Abantus. Despite being outnumbered, Crispus won a very complete victory.
11. Siege of Byzantium324 CE
    The siege of Byzantium was carried out some time between July and September 324 by the forces of the Roman emperor Constantine I during his Second Civil War against his rival, co-emperor Licinius. It would have been started simultaneously with the naval battle of the Hellespont in which Constantine's son and caesar Crispus defeated the Lycinian navy commanded by Admiral Abanto.
12. Battle of Chrysopolis324 CE
    The Battle of Chrysopolis was fought on 18 September 324 between the Roman emperors Constantine I and Licinius near Chrysopolis, opposite Byzantium on the Asiatic shore of the Bosphorus. The battle followed Constantine's victory at the Battle of the Hellespont, where his son Crispus destroyed the Licinian fleet. Licinius withdrew his forces from Byzantium to Chalcedon and gathered the remnants of his army, reinforced by Visigothic auxiliaries and the troops of the co-emperor Martinian.
13. First Council of Nicaea325 CE
    The First Council of Nicaea was a council of Christian bishops convened in the Bithynian city of Nicaea by the Roman Emperor Constantine I, also known as the First Ecumenical Council. It met from May until the end of July 325.
14. Battle of Narasara337 CE
    The Battle of Narasara was one of the first clashes of the war of position between the Sassanid troops of Shapur II and the Roman troops of the eastern limes of Constantius II.

Event data from Wikipedia/Wikidata (CC-BY-SA). Spotted a mistake? Email [email protected].