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Constantius II
Short Biography
about the life of Constantius II
Short Biography profile and facts about one of the most famous Romans of all, in the life of
Constantius II, Emperor of Rome and provinces of the Roman Empire.
Name commonly known as: Constantius II *** Latin Roman Name: Flavius Julius Constantius *** Reigned as Roman Emperor /
Caesar: Ruled 337-361 AD Caesar under his father and as full co-emperor 337 - October 5, 361 with Constans and
Constantine II (and in competition with others) *** Dynasty / Historical Period:
The Constantinian dynasty (285 - 364) also called Neo-Flavian
because every Constantinian emperor bore the name Flavius *** Place and Date of Birth: Born
7 August 317 at Sirmium (Serbia) *** Family connections / Genealogy
*** Name of Father:
Constantine the Great
*** Name of Mother: Fausta *** Married:
*** *** Eusebia *** Faustina
*** Children: Flavia Maxima
Constantia *** Brothers:
*** *** Crispus (half
brother by Minervina)
*** *** Constantine II
*** *** Constans
Why was Constantius II famous?
Accomplishments, achievements and important events: *** Place and Date of Death:
He died of a fever November 3, 361 AD. (aged 44) at Tarsus in Cilicia
***
For the names of the next
Roman emperors in the East and the West of the Empire refer to the
Timeline of
Roman Emperors
The Family of Constantius II
Obtain a fast overview of the times of the Roman Emperor
Constantius II from the following facts and information about his life.
Constantius was the second son of Constantine I and his
second wife Fausta. By 317, there were two joint emperors in
control of the Roman Empire. The father of Constantius II,
Constantine, reigned as an Western Roman Emperor and his
brother-in-law
Licinius as the
Eastern Roman Emperor. On 1 March 317, the two co-reigning
Emperors jointly proclaimed three new Caesars.
Crispus, his half brother, the son of
Minerva and Constantine
His brother - Constantine II, the son
of Fausta and Constantine
His first cousin Licinius, the son of
Licinius by his wife Flavia Julia Constantia, the sister
of the Emperor Constantine
His brother Constans was put to death by
Magnentius, an ambitious soldier, who at once assumed the
name of emperor. Constantius marched against him, but found
that Vetranio, praefect of Illyricum, had joined him,
instigated by the Princess Constantina. He finally, however,
defeated Magnentius, and deposed the aged Vetranio, and thus
became the master of Rome. Following the conversion of
Constantine the Great to Christianity the Pope had gained in
significance and became even more important following the
removal of the court from Rome to the new Roman capital of
Constantinople.
Interesting facts
about the life of Constantius II
Constantius was born later that year in August
317. Constantine the Great therefore left three sons, who
shared the empire between them; but two were killed early in
life, and only Constantius, the second and worst of the
brothers, remained Emperor. Sapor, king of Persia, was
attacking Nisibis, the most Eastern city of the Roman
empire, where a brave Catholic named James was Bishop, and
encouraged the people to a most brave resistance, so that
they held out for four months; and Sapor, thinking the city
was under some divine protection, and finding that his army
sickened in the hot marshes around it, gave up the siege at
last.
The Personality and
Appearance of Constantius II
Constantius was a little, mean-looking man, but
he dressed himself up to do his part as Emperor. He had
swarms of attendants like any Eastern prince, most of them
slaves, who waited on him as if he was perfectly helpless.
He had his face painted, and was covered with gold
embroidery and jewels on all state occasions, and he used to
stand like a statue to be looked at, never winking an
eyelid, nor moving his hand, nor doing anything to remind
people that he was a man like themselves. He was timid and
jealous, and above all others, he dreaded his young cousin
Julian, the only relation he had left.
The Death of Constantius II
Julian was extremely able, and Constantius II
thought it best to keep him at a distance by sending him to
fight the Germans on the borders of Gaul. There he was so
successful, and was such a favorite with the soldiers, that
Constantius II sent to recall him. This only made the army
proclaim him Emperor and he set out with them across the
Danubian country towards Constantinople, but on the way met
the tidings that Constantius was dead. Constantius had died
of a fever November 3, 361 AD. (aged 44) at Tarsus in Cilicia.
His successor was Julian who became known as
Julian the Apostate.
Constantius II
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