FLAVIUS VALERIUS COSTANTINUS MAXIMUS (306 - 337)\par
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\b0 The son of Constantius Chlorus and Hele
n, he was born at Naissos in Moesia on February 27, 276. On his father's death (306), he was acclaimed emperor by the army in Britain. He defeated Maxentius in Italy and became emperor of the West. According to legend, his victory at the Milvian bridge w
as the will of the Christian god. After defeating Licinius (324), his former ally who had become emperor of the East, he reunified the Empire. He moved the capital from Rome to Constantinople (326 or 330), in order to meet the threat of barbarian invasio
ns on the borders of the Empire. He governed wisely, restored many monuments in Rome, and built several basilicas for the Christians. However he was also ruthless: in fact he had his son Crispus and wife Fausta killed because they were suspected of treas
on. He died at Nicomedia at the age of thirty-one while preparing a campaign against the Persians.\par