Irlandos at 10:41, February 25, 2006

2006-02-25T10:41:04Z

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'''Constantius II''', [[Byzantine Emperor]] ([[August 7]], [[317]] - [[November 3]], [[361]], reigned [[337]] - [[361]]), was the second of the three sons of [[Constantine I (emperor)|Constantine I]] and [[Fausta]].

He was born in Sirmium (in Illyricum) and named Caesar. When his father died in 337, he led the massacre of his relatives decended from the second marriage of [[Constantius I Chlorus]] and Theodora, leaving himself, his older brother [[Constantine II (emperor)|Constantine II]], his younger brother [[Constans]] and two cousins ([[Julian the Apostate]] and his brother Gallus) as the only surviving adult males related to Constantine. The three brothers divided the Roman Empire between them according to their father's will. Constantine II received Great Britain, Gaul and Spain; Constans ruled Italy, Africa, and the Illyrian provinces and Constantius ruled [[Constantinople]] and the East.

This division changed when Constantine II died in [[340]], trying to overthrow Constans in Italy, and Constans become sole ruler in the Western half of the empire. The division changed once more in [[350]] when Constans was killed in battle by forces loyal to the usurper Magnentius. Until this time Constantius was preoccupied with fighting the Sassanid Empire and he was forced to elevate his cousin Gallus to Caesar to assist him while he turned his attention to this usurper.

Constantius eventually met and crushed Magnentius in the Battle of Mursa Major, one of the bloodiest battles in Roman history, in [[351]]. Magnentius committed suicide in [[353]], and Constantius soon after put his cousin Gallus to death. However, he still could not handle the military affairs of both the Eastern and German frontiers by himself, so in [[355]] he elevated his last remaining relative, [[Julian the Apostate|Julian]], to Caesar. As Julian was hailed Augustus by the army in Gaul, Constantius saw no alternative but to face the usurper with violent force.
As the two armies sought engagement, Constantius died from a fever near Tarsus on November 3, 361, and Julian was hailed Augustus in the whole of the Roman empire.

Constantius took an active part in the affairs of the Christian church, frequently taking the side of the Arians and he called the Council of Rimini in [[359]].

Constantius married twice, first to Eusebia Augusta and second to Faustina, who gave birth to a posthumous daughter, Constantia, who later married Emperor Gratian.

== External links ==

* DiMaio, Michael, and Robert Frakes, [http://www.roman-emperors.org/constaii.htm "Constantius II,"] ''De Imperatoribus Romanis'' site.

{{Credit wikipedia}}

[[Category:317 births]]
[[Category:361 deaths]]
[[Category:Byzantine emperors]]
[[Category:Constantine Dynasty]]

Constantius II - Revision history

Irlandos at 10:41, February 25, 2006