Flavius Valerius Constantius[1] (March 31 c. 250–July 25 306) was an emperor of the Western
Roman Empire (305–306). He was commonly called Chlorus
(the Pale)[2] an epithet given to him by Byzantine historians. He was the father of Constantine I and
initiator of the Constantinian dynasty.
History
The Historia Augusta says Constantius was the son of Eutropius, a noble from
Dardania, and Claudia, a niece of the emperors Claudius II
and Quintillus.[3]
However, historians suspect this connection to be a genealogical fabrication created by his grandson Constantine
II, thus connecting his family to two rather highly regarded predecessors. Under the emperor Carus, he was governor of Dalmatia, and Carus is said to have considered
adopting him as his heir in place of his dissolute son, Carinus.[4]
In 293 the emperor Diocletian created the Tetrarchy,
dividing the Roman Empire into Western and
Eastern portions. Each would be ruled by an Augustus, supported by a Caesar. Diocletian became Augustus
of the Eastern empire, with Galerius as his Caesar. Constantius was appointed Caesar to the
Western Augustus, Maximian, and married Theodora, Maximian's step-daughter. They had six children. Constantius divorced his first wife
(or concubine), Helena, by whom he already had a son, Constantine. Helena was probably from Nicomedia in Asia Minor.[5] He was given command of Gaul,
Britain and possibly Hispania.
In 293, Constantius defeated the forces of Carausius, who had
declared himself emperor in Britain and northern Gaul in 286, near Bononia. Carausius was killed
by his rationalis Allectus, who took command of
Britain until 296, when Constantius sent Asclepiodotus, a prefect of the
Praetorian Guard, to invade the island. Allectus was defeated and killed, and Roman
rule in Britain restored.[6]
Also in 296, Constantius fought a battle against the Alamanni at the city of
Lingonae (Langes) in Gaul. He was shut up in the city, but was relieved by his army after six
hours, and defeated the enemy.[7] He defeated them again at Vindonissa (Windisch, Switzerland),[8] therby strengthening
the defenses of the Rhine frontier.
Diocletian and Maximian stepped down as co-emperors in 305, due to Diocletian's poor health, and the Caesars, Contantius and
Galerius, became co-emperors. Constantius ruled the western empire, Galerius the eastern.
Severus and Maximinus were appointed
Caesars. Constantine, who had hoped to be a Caesar, joined his father's campaigns in Gaul and Britain.[9] Constantius died in Britain, at York, in 306, and
Constantine was declared emperor by the army.[10]
Legend
Christian legends
As the father of Constantine, a number of Christian legends have grown up around Constantius. Eusebius's Life of Constantine claims that Constantius was himself a Christian, although he
pretended to be a pagan, and while Caesar under Diocletian, took no part in the emperor's persecutions.[11] His first wife, Helena,
is the subject of many legends, including the finding of the True Cross.
British legends
Constantius's activities in Britain were remembered in medieval British legend. In Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of
Britain (1136), he is sent to Britain by the Senate after Asclepiodotus, here a
British king, is overthrown by Coel of Colchester. Coel submitts to Contantius and agrees
to pay tribute to Rome, but dies only eight days later. Constantius marries Coel's daughter Helena and becomes king of Britain.
He and Helena have a son, Constantine, who succeeds to the throne of Britain when his father dies at York eleven years
later.[12] The identification of Helena as British had
previously been made by Henry of Huntingdon,[13] but has no historical validity: Constantius had divorced Helena before he went
to Britain.
Notes
- ^ "Marcus Flavius Valerius Constantius", "Valerius Constantius", "Gaius
Valerius Constantius", and "Gaius Fabius Constantius" have been found on inscriptions
- ^ From the Greek χλωρός, meaning pale/yellow-greenish
- ^ Historia Augusta,
Claudius 13
- ^ Historia Augusta, Carus 17
- ^ Eutropius, Breviarum 9.22; Zosimus, Historia Nova 2; Exerpta Valesiana 1.2
- ^ Aurelius Victor, Liber de
Caesaribus, 39
- ^ Eutropius, Breviarum 9.23
- ^ UNRV History: Battle of the Third Century AD
- ^ Eutropius, Breviarum 10.1; Aurelius Victor,
Epitome de Caesaribus 39;
Zosimus, Historia Nova 2
- ^ Eutropius, Breviarum 10.1-2
- ^ Eusebius, Vita
Constantini 1.13-18
- ^ Geoffrey of Monmouth,
Historia Regum Britanniae 5.6
- ^ Henry of Huntingdon,
Historia Anglorum 1.37
External links
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