The Roman emperor Constantine is often referred to as the first Christian Roman emperor, and is credited with converting the empire to Christianity. While he did not officially declare Christianity as the state religion, he did enact policies that favoured Christians, such as granting freedom of religion and returning property that had been confiscated from them during previous persecutions. His victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD is often said to have marked a turning point in the acceptance of Christianity in the empire.