Constantine I was called Constantine the Great for several reasons. Prior to becoming a Roman emperor, he was a successful military leader in several civil wars. During his reign from 306 to 337, he was the first ruler to embrace Christianity. He also established Constantinople (modern Istanbul in Turkey) as a Roman capitol city. During the next 800 years it would grow to become Europe’s richest city. This mammoth bronze sculpture of his head is from the 4th century. It is displayed in the Capitoline Museums’ Palazzo dei Conservatori.
