Constantine II

Constantine II (317-340 CE) was a Roman Emperor and member of the Constantine Dynasty.
He was the son of Constantine I and co-Emperor with his two brothers Constans and Constantius II.

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

NAME:
- Flavius Claudius Constantinus
CONSTANTINE II’ DATES OF REIGN AS EMPEROR:
- 1 March 317-337 CE: co-Emperor with his father Constantine I.
- 337-340 CE: co-Emperor over Gaul, Hispania, and Britannia, with his brothers Constantius II and Constans.
CONSTANTINE II’ DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
- Born: February 316 CE. Died: 340 CE.
PLACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
- Born in Arles, Gallia Narbonensis. Died in Aquileia, Italia.
CONSTANTINE II’ PREDECESSOR:
- Constantine I
CONSTANTINE II’ SUCCESSOR:
- Constantius II and Constans,
  - They were his brothers and co-Emperors.
HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
- His father was the Emperor Constantine I.
DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
- Constantine II died in an ambush in Aquileia, whilst invading Italy to campaign against his younger brother Constans.
WHERE BURIED:
- Unknown.
CONSTANTINE II WAS FAMOUS BECAUSE:
- He was part of the Constantine Dynasty.

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.

Under pressure from the Pope in Rome, who disliked Arianism, Constantine II released the Trinitarian Athanasius.
Athanasius returned to Alexandria in Egypt, much to the annoyance of his brother Constantius II.

Constantine II was the Guardian of his younger brother Constans.
When Constans reached 21, Constantin II 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.

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