General Notes

Constantine received only a meager education. He took up soldiering early, and proved his valor in the wars against Egypt and Persia. He was of British birth and education, and is known as the first Christian Emperor. He fought with his father in the Boulogne campaign and shared in a British campaign. The Gallic army, deeply loyal to the humane Constantius, came to love his handsome, brave, and energetic son; and when the father died at York in 306, the troops proclaimed Constantine not merely as "Caesar" but as Augustus - emperor. He accepted the lesser title, excusing himself on the grounds that his life would be unsafe without an army at his back. Consequently Constantine fought successfully against the invading Franks. Later, with a British army he set out to put down the persecution of Christians forever. The greatest of all Roman Emperors, he annexed Britain to the Roman Empire and founded Constantinople. In the year 321 he decreed that the Christian Sunday be truly observed as a day of rest. In 325 he assembled the Council of Nicea in Bithynia, Asia Minor, which he attended in person. This Council formulated the Nicene Creed. The following edict of Constantine sets forth the standards of his life: "We call God to witness, the Savior of all men, that in assuming the government we are influenced solely by these two considerations - the uniting of the empire in one faith, and the restoration of peace to a world rent in pieces by the insanity of religious persecution."

notes or source:
ancestry.com & HBJ

Constantine the Great (Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus), born 265, died in May, 336 or 337, buried in the church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople. He was of British birth and education, and is known as the first Christian Emperor. With a British army he set out to put down the persecution of Christians forever. The greatest of all Roman Emperors, he annexed Britain to the Roman Empire and founded Constantinople. In the year 321 he decreed that the Christian Sunday be truly observed as a day of rest. In 325 he assembled the Council of Nicea in Bithynia, Asia Minor, which he attended in person. This Council formulated the Nicene Creed. The following edict of Constantine sets forth the standards of his life: "We call God to witness, the Savior of all men, that in assuming the government we are influenced solely by these two considerations - the uniting of the empire in one faith, and the restoration of peace to a world rent in pieces by the insanity of religious persecution." By his first wife (1) Minervina he was father of Flavius Valerius Crispus Caesar. He married (2) Fausta, sister of his step-mother, Theodora. Fausta and Theodora and their brother Maxentius were children of Maximinus, Roman Emperor (286-305). One writer, Brewer, said he was a giant, eight feet, six inches tall! His son Maxentius, Emperor (310-311), married Valeria, daughter of Galerius, Emperor (310-311), and his wife, Valeria, who was daughter of Diocletian, Emperor (284-305). Fausta and Constantine the Great had three sons: Constantine II., Constantius II., and Constants I., and a daughter, Helen, wife of Julian the Apostate.