Constantius III

Constantius III (421 CE) was a Roman Emperor in the West, who ruled for seven months.
He removed the Visigoths from Gaul and forced them back into Spain.

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

NAME:
- Flavius Constantius.
CONSTANTIUS III’ DATES OF REIGN AS EMPEROR:
- 8 February 421 CE to 2 September 421 CE.
- Co-Emperor with Honorius
CONSTANTIUS III’ DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
- Date of birth unknown. Died 2 September 421 CE.
PLACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
- Born in Naissus. Place of death unknown.
CONSTANTIUS III’ PREDECESSOR:
- Honorius
CONSTANTIUS III’ SUCCESSOR:
- Honorius
WIVES AND CHILDREN:
- Gallia Placida.
  - Valentinian III
  - Justa Grata Honoria
HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
- Constantius III was Magister Militum under Honorius and appointed co-Emperor by him.
DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
- Cause of death unknown, but he died suddenly whilst preparing to invade the East.
WHERE BURIED:
- Unknown.
CONSTANTIUS III WAS FAMOUS BECAUSE:
- He removed the Visigoths from southwestern Gaul and pushed them back into Spain.

31 December 406 CE, a massive army of Suevi, Alans and Vandals invaded Gaul.
This time a Usurper from Britannia, Constantine III, was proclaimed Emperor of the West. He took the British Legions into Gaul, and after a few skirmishes, was accepted by the German invaders as Emperor in Gaul and on the Rhine Frontier. Spain also proclaimed Constantine III Emperor.

Stilicho sent his General, 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 back into Italia.
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.

In 408 CE, Stilicho paid 4,000 pounds of Gold to Alaric, to prevent him invading Italia.
In May 408 CE, Honorius’ brother Arcadius, Emperor of the East, died in Constantinople. Stilicho advised Honorius not to travel East, and went instead himself. Whilst Stilicho was away, Honorius was persuaded to join a conspiracy against him. On his return, Stilicho was arrested and executed, and all his supporters murdered.
Meanwhile in Italia, Stilicho‘s army mutinied when Stilicho was executed. Sarus the Goth and his army then abandoned the Roman Army.

In 409 CE, Honorius, now vulnerable to Alaric and his Gothic army, decided to recognise Constantine III as co-Emperor in the West.
However, in September 409 CE, the Germanic Tribes overran the Rhine Frontier again, establishing themselves in Gaul and invading Spain.

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

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

In 412 CE the Visigoths had withdrawn to Gaul and proclaimed Attalus as Roman Emperor.
In 413 CE, Constantius III was appointed Consul.
In 414 CE, using the army left by Constantine III, Constantius III attacked the Visigoths in Southwest Gaul and blockaded them by sea. By 415 CE, with no supplies reaching them, the Visigoths were forced to retreat into Spain.
In 417 CE Constantius III married Honorius‘ sister, Gallia Placida.
On 8 February 421 CE, Constantius III was made Co-Emperor with Honorius. However, this was not recognised by the Emperor in the East, Theodosius II, so Constantius III, started planning to invade the East.
On 2 September 421 CE, Constantius III died suddenly from an unknown cause, and the plans for Invasion ended.