Constantine III

  • Constantine III (407-411 CE) was a Roman Emperor in the West, who represents the end of Roman Rule in Britannia.
  • In Spring 407 CE, Constantine III took the British Legions to Gaul from Britannia, and they never returned. In Welsh Legend he is known as the ‘King of the Britons’.

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

  • NAME:
    • Flavius Claudius Constantinus
  • CONSTANTINE III’ DATES OF REIGN AS EMPEROR:
    • 407-409 CE Usurper against Honorius
    • 409-411 CE Co-Emperor with Honorius and his son Constans II.
  • CONSTANTINE III’ DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
    • Died 18 September 411 CE
  • PLACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
  • CONSTANTINE III’ PREDECESSOR:
  • CONSTANTINE III’ SUCCESSOR:
  • CONSTANTINE III’ CHILDREN:
    • Constans II
    • Julian
  • HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
    • Constantine III was a Usurper, a Roman General who declared himself Emperor, with his son.
  • DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
    • He was executed after he abdicated.
  • WHERE BURIED:
    • Unknown.
  • CONSTANTINE III WAS FAMOUS BECAUSE:
    • In Spring 407 CE, Constantine III took the British Legions to Gaul from Britannia, and they never returned.
    • Constantine III represents the end of Roman Rule in Britannia.
    • Constantine III is known as ‘King of the Britons’, both in the Welsh Chronicles and in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s, Historia Regum Britanniae.

2. BRIEF SYNOPSIS

CONSTANTINE III BECOMES EMPEROR OF BRITANNIA, GAUL, GERMANY AND SPAIN

  • 31 December 406 CE: A huge Germanic invasion of Alans, Vandals, Burgundians and Seueves, overran the Rhine Defenses and invaded Gaul.
  • Early in 407 CE, the Military in Britannia were fearful of a similar invasion and a series of Revolts took place.

Constantine III proclaimed Emperor (407 CE) and invades Gaul

  • First, a Roman called Marcus was proclaimed Emperor, then another called Gratian, and finally the Roman General Constantine III.
  • Expecting Britannia to be invaded, he decided the best strategy was to take the remnants of the British Legions to Gaul, defeat the German Tribes there and challenge Honorius.
  • Constantine III then crossed the Channel into Gaul with his army. After a few skirmishes, the Germanic Tribes in Gaul accepted his authority, they agreed to man the Rhine Frontier for him, and Constantine III moved south. Meanwhile, Spain proclaimed Constantine III Emperor without him even sending an army there.

Stilicho sent to retake Gaul but fails

  • The Western Emperor Honorius was based in Ravenna, but was too young to rule and his General Stilicho sent Sarus the Goth, with an army to put down the Revolt.
  • First, Constantine III’s two Generals, Justinianus and Nebiogastes the Frank were defeated by Sarus when he laid siege to Valence. Constantine III then sent another army under Edobichus and Gerontius, who relieved Valence, forcing Sarus to withdraw into Italia.

Constantine III makes Arles his Capital and occupies Spain

  • In May 408 CE, Constantine III made Arles his Capital city.
  • In the Summer of 408 CE, Constantine III sent an army into Spain and removed the cousins of Theodosius I.
  • Meanwhile in Italia, Stilicho‘s army mutinied and Stilicho was executed. Sarus the Goth and his army then abandoned the Roman Army.

CONSTANTINE III BECOMES CO-EMPEROR WITH HONORIUS (409 CE)

  • In 409 CE, Honorius was now vulnerable to Alaric and his Gothic army.
  • Honorius decided to recognise Constantine III as Co-Emperor in the West.

GAUL IS INVADED (409 CE)

  • However, in September 409 CE, the Germanic Tribes overran the Rhine Frontier again, establishing themselves in Gaul and invading Spain.

BRITANNIA IS LOST (409-10 CE)

  • At the same time the Saxon fleets led a devastating attack on Britannia which had no defences.
  • Furious, the Britons dismissed all of Constantine III’s Roman Officials, and wrote to Honorius for help.

Rescript of Honorius (409-410 CE)

SPAIN IS LOST (410 CE)

  • Meanwhile, Gerontius, Constantine III’s General in Spain, proclaimed a cousin as a rival Emperor, united with the Germanic invaders and threatened to attack Gaul.
  • Constantine III decided the best strategy was to invade Italia, but he was defeated and forced to withdraw to Gaul in Spring 410 CE.
  • In 411 CE, Gerontius’ Spanish army captured Vienne, where his son Constans II was executed. Gerontius then besieged Arles.

DEATH

  • Honorius then elevated a new General to suppress the Rebellion, Constantius III, who arrived in Gaul, forced Gerontius to retreat and laid siege himself to Arles.
  • Finally, Constantine III surrendered, and was executed whilst en-route to Ravenna.

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

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