History, Facts and Information about Constantius II
The content of this article provides interesting history, facts and information about the Emperor Constantius II and the all-powerful Caesars who ruled the empire of Ancient Rome. The word "Caesar" was originally the name of the famous aristocratic patrician family of ancient Rome and became synonymous with the Roman Emperors. Refer to the comprehensive List of Roman Emperors for the names of the most famous Romans, their dynasties and the historic eras of all the Roman Emperors and usurpers. Read about the life of Constantius who can be described or remembered as:
"The second and worst of the sons of Constantine the Great..."
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.
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.
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Map of the Roman Empire c395AD illustrating the power of the Emperor