The first Christian emperor. This modern biography of Constantine the Great liberates the first Christian emperor from the web of a tradition always driven by foreign interests. It portrays him as a ruler who, although inspired by a vision, remained a cool tactician—especially in matters of religious policy. Those who stood in his way in achieving his goal of sole rule, or who threatened his power, learned of his relentless harshness—and this applied even to his closest family. On July 25, 306 AD, 1700 years ago, Constantine, the son of the recently deceased Roman Emperor Constantius Chlorus and a stable maid, was proclaimed the new emperor by the troops in York, England. This event was a genuine coup d'état.