Historical Figures and Leadership History Essay Paper

Historical Figures and Leadership
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Constantine was a Roman Emperor who ruled between AD 306 and 337. Apart from his success on the battlefield and conquering other nations, he had a huge impact on society. He is regarded as the first Christian Emperor advocating that Christians could believe what they wanted. This paper looks at his life and how his leadership skills can be applied in today’s workplaces.
Flavius Valerius Constantinus was born on February 27, circa 280. His father was an officer in the Roman army and his mother just a woman from humble beginnings. His father would later marry Maximian’s stepdaughter consequently being elevated to deputy emperor under Maximian in 293. With his father at an elevated position, Constantine was sent to the court of Diocletian, where he was educated in Latin and Greek. In 305, the fate of the Constantine family would change following the abdication of Maximian. CITATION Bio14 \l 1033 (Biography, 2014) Constantine's father became Emperor Constantius I. Constantine would later join a military campaign where he fought alongside his father in Britain. After his father’s death, the troops declared Constantine the new emperor. However, he was still challenged by Emperors Maxentius who believed to have better claim to the land because of his father Maximian. After years of civil war, he emerged victorious in 324 AD and became the sole ruler of the eastern and western empires.
Constantine is known for his role in ending persecution against Christians. It is believed that when he was studying at the court of Diocletian, he got to witness this persecution fist hand. By converting into Christianity, it led to the proclamation of the Edict of Milan in 313 that decreed the tolerance of Christianity in the empire. This was an influential move that saw him garner a lot of support...