Its founder died, after a reign of thirty years, in his sixty-fourth year (337).
Constantine is entitled to great credit for the uniform kindness with which he treated his Christian subjects.

It is said that his mother, HELENA, was a Christian, and that it was to her influence that this mildness was due.

The sect, notwithstanding many persecutions, had kept on increasing, until now we find them a numerous and quite influential body.

It was during his reign that the DECREE OF MILAN was issued, in 313, giving the imperial license to the religion of Christ; and also in this reign the famous COUNCIL OF NICE, in Bithynia (325), met to settle questions of creed.
In person Constantine was tall and majestic: he was dexterous in all warlike accomplishments; intrepid in war, affable in peace; patient and prudent in council, bold and unhesitating in action.

Ambition alone led him to attack the East; and the very madness of jealousy marked his course after his success.