Constantine was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. Constantine was born in Nis, which is now Serbia. In 312 AD, right before a major battle, Jesus appeared to him in a dream, giving him a sign that he will be victorious. He won the battle and Constantine looked upon Jesus as the deliverer of victory. Constantine ended the persecution of Christians by issuing the Edict of Milan, which ordered the people to live peacefully with Christians in the Roman Empire. He built numerous churches within the Roman Empire and was eventually baptized before his death.