The Religious policies of Constantine the Great have been called "ambiguous and elusive."[1]: 120 Born in 273 during the Crisis of the Third Century (AD 235–284), Constantine the Great was thirty at the time of the Great Persecution. He saw his father become Augustus of the West and then shortly die. Constantine spent his life in the military warring with much of his extended family, and converted to Christianity sometime around 40 years of age. His religious policies, formed from these experiences, comprised increasing toleration of Christianity, limited regulations against Roman polytheism with toleration, participation in resolving religious disputes such as schism with the Donatists, and the calling of councils including the Council of Nicaea concerning Arianism.[2]: 60 John Kaye characterizes the conversion of Constantine, and the Council of Nicea that Constantine called, as two of the most important things to ever happen to the Christian church.[3]: 1
- ^ Bradbury, Scott (April 1994). "Constantine and the problem of anti-pagan legislation in the fourth century". Classical Philology. 89 (2): 120–139. doi:10.1086/367402. S2CID 159997492.
- ^ Peter Brown, The Rise of Christendom 2nd edition (Oxford, Blackwell Publishing, 2003)
- ^ KAYE, John. Some account of the Council of Nicæa in connexion with the life of Athanasius. United Kingdom, n.p, 1853.