Constans

• Constans (337-350 CE) was a Roman Emperor and member of the Constantine Dynasty.

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

• NAME:
  • Flavius Julius Constans
• CONSTANS’ DATES OF REIGN AS EMPEROR:
  • 337 to 350 CE. He was Co-Emperor with Constantine II and Constantius II.
• CONSTANS’ DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
  • Born: c.323 CE. Died: February 350 CE.
• PLACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
  • Place of birth unknown. Died in Vicus Helena, Gaul.
• CONSTANS’ PREDECESSOR:
  • Constantine I
• CONSTANS’ SUCCESSOR:
  • Constantius II
• HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
  • He was the third son of Constantine I, who made all three of his sons co-Emperors.
• DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
  • Killed by the soldiers of General Magnentius, who proclaimed himself Augustus instead.
• WHERE BURIED:
  • Unknown.
•  CONSTANS WAS FAMOUS BECAUSE:
  • He was part of the Constantine Dynasty, but is remembered for being cruel and indulgent in vice.

2. BRIEF SYNOPSIS

Rise to Power

• When Constantine I died in 337 CE, the Empire was split between his three sons and two cousins. The cousins were immediately massacred by Constantius II in Constantinople, leaving the three brothers in charge.
• On the 9 September 337 CE, Constantine II, Constans and Constantius II met at Sirmium in Pannonia and divided the Empire between themselves.
  1. Constantine II received Hispania, Gaul, Britannia and Mauretania
  2. Constantius II received the eastern Provinces of Constantinople, Thracia, Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, Cyrenaica
  3. Constans received Italia, Africa, Illyricum, Thracia, Pannonia, Macedonia and Achaea.

Sarmatian invasion (337 CE)

• Constans was immediately required to go east and campaign against the Sarmatians. He returned after winning a great victory.

Conflict with Constantine II (340 CE)

• Constantine II was the Guardian of his younger brother Constans. When Constans reached 21, he refused to hand over power, and ordered Constans to relinquish his African Provinces.
• In the disagreement that followed, Constantine II decided to invade Italia. Constans was in Dacia and sent an army to intercept his brother.
• Constantine II was ambushed at Aquileia and killed, with Constans inheriting all his territories.

Religious Reform (341-346 CE)

• In 341 CE Constans issued an Edict banning Pagan sacrifices. He banned Donatism in Africa.
• In 343 CE Constans summoned the Council of Sardica to resolve the dispute between Arianism and Nicene Creed, but without success.
• In 346 CE, to avoid war with his brother, each agreed that Arianism should continue under Constantius II in the East, and Nicene Creed should continue under Constans in the West.

Assassination of Constans (Feb. 350 CE)

• Constans’ reputation for vice and cruelty eventually lost him the army’s support.
• General Magnentius proclaimed himself Emperor at Autun in Gaul, where Constans happened to be on vacation nearby.
• Constans attempted to flee to Hispania, but was captured and killed in a fort called Vicus Helena in Gaul.

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

• CLASSICAL SOURCES:
  • Zosimus ‘Historia Nova’
  • Aurelius Victor ‘Epitome de Caesaribus’
  • Eutropius ‘Breviarium Historiae Romanae’