History tells us that the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in the 4th century. But did Christianity conquer Rome or did pagan Rome conquer Christianity? Archaeology in Rome and Istanbul, reveals that the Emperor had the instincts of a marketing genius. Strategically combining many deities, Constantine “sold” Christ as an amalgamation of sun gods – Mithras, for example, whose birthday was on December 25th. By force of arms, the new religion suppressed the original Jesus movement and the hundreds of Christian alternatives that had sprouted around it. Constantine’s Christianity is still the world’s most successful brand.