Constans

Caesar25 December 333 – 9 September 337Born322 or 323DiedJanuary 350 (aged 27)^[2]
Vicus Helena, southwestern Gaul

Names
Flavius Julius Constans[2]
Regnal name
Imperator Caesar Flavius Julius Constans Augustus

DynastyConstantinianFatherConstantine IMotherFaustaReligionNicene Christianity

Flavius Julius Constans (c. 323 – 350), also called Constans I, was Roman emperor from 337 to 350. He held the imperial rank of caesar from 333, and was the youngest son of Constantine the Great.

After his father's death, he was made augustus alongside his brothers in September 337. Constans was given the administration of the praetorian prefectures of Italy, Illyricum, and Africa.^[3] He defeated the Sarmatians in a campaign shortly afterwards.^[3] Quarrels over the sharing of power led to a civil war with his eldest brother and co-emperor Constantine II, who invaded Italy in 340 and was killed in battle by Constans's forces near Aquileia.^[3] Constans gained from him the praetorian prefecture of Gaul.^[3] Thereafter there were tensions with his remaining brother and co-augustus Constantius II (r. 337–361), including over the exiled bishop Athanasius of Alexandria,^[3] who in turn eulogized Constans as "the most pious Augustus... of blessed and everlasting memory."^[4] In the following years he campaigned against the Franks, and in 343 he visited Roman Britain,^[3] the last legitimate emperor to do so.^[5]

In January 350, Magnentius (r. 350–353) the commander of the Jovians and Herculians, a corps in the Roman army, was acclaimed augustus at Augustodunum (Autun) with the support of Marcellinus, the comes rei privatae.^[6] Magnentius overthrew and killed Constans.^[3][6] Surviving sources, possibly influenced by the propaganda of Magnentius's faction,^[7] accuse Constans of misrule and of homosexuality.^[3]

Early life

Sources variously report Constans’ age at the time of his death as 27 or 30, meaning he was born in either 320 or 323.^[2] Barnes, observing numismatic evidence, considered the younger age to be more likely.^[8] He was the third and youngest son of Constantine I and Fausta.^[9] According to the works of both Ausonius and Libanius, he was educated at Constantinople under the tutelage of the poet Aemilius Magnus Arborius, who instructed him in Latin.^[2]

On 25 December 333, Constans was elevated to the imperial rank of caesar at Constantinople by his father.^[2] Prior to 337, Constans became engaged to Olympias, the daughter of the praetorian prefect Ablabius, although the two never actually married.^[9]

Reign

After Constantine's death, Constans and his two brothers, Constantine II and Constantius II were proclaimed augusti and divided the Roman empire among themselves on 9 September 337.^[2] Constans was left with Italy, Africa and Illyricum.^[10] In 338, he campaigned against the Sarmatians.^[11]

Meanwhile, Constans came into conflict with his eldest brother Constantine II over the latter’s presumed authority over Constans’ territory. After attempting to issue legislation to Africa in 339, which was part of Constans’ realm, Constantine led his army into an invasion of Italy only a year later. However, he was ambushed and killed by Constans’ troops, and Constans then took control of his brother’s territories.^[11]

Constans began his reign in an energetic fashion.^[12][13] From 341 to 342, he led a campaign against the Franks where, after an initial setback,^[14] the military operation concluded with a victory and a favorable peace treaty.^[15] Eutropius wrote that he “had performed many gallant actions in the field, and had made himself feared by the army through the whole course of his life, though without exercising any extraordinary severity,”^[16] while Ammianus Marcellinus remarked that Julian was the only person the Alamanni feared after the death of Constans.^[15]

In the early months of 343, he visited Britain.^[9] Although the reasons for it are unclear, the writers were primarily interested in Constans’ precarious journey to the province, rather than his actions within it. Based on Libanius’ statement that Constans was not motivated by disorder on the island, Hunt concluded it was not a military campaign, instead suggesting it was over administrative purposes.^[15]

Religion

While Constans issued laws against paganism, such as an edict banning pagan sacrifices in 341,^[9] he evidently did not want to appear too tough on it. Only a short while later, he legislated against the destruction of temple buildings.^[17]

He suppressed Donatism in Africa and supported Nicene orthodoxy against Arianism, which was championed by his brother Constantius. Although Constans called the Council of Serdica in 343 to settle the conflict,^[18] it was a complete failure,^[19] and by 346 the two emperors were on the point of open warfare over the dispute.^[20]

Homosexuality

Unlike his brother and co-ruler Constantius II, Constans was targeted with gossip over his personal life.^[21] Eutropius wrote that he “indulged in great vices,”^[16] possibly a reference to his alleged homosexuality, and the suspicions were fueled by him “unduly favouring good-looking members of his barbarian bodyguard.”^[22] Aurelius Victor additionally charged Constans with pederasty towards young barbarian hostages,^[23][21] though Hunt remarked that, “…the allegation that he kept a coterie of captive barbarians to gratify his homosexual tastes sounds more like hostile folklore.”^[24] Constans’ legislation against homosexuality has been cited to dispute the rumor.^[24][25]

Death

On 18 January 350,^[26] the general Magnentius declared himself emperor at Augustodunum (Autun) with the support of court officials such as Marcellinus, Constans’ comes rerum privatarum, as well as Fabius Titianus, who had served as the praetorian prefect of Gaul.^[24] At the time, Constans was distracted by a hunting trip.^[27] As he was trying to reach Hispania, supporters of Magnentius cornered him in a fortification in Helena (Elne) in the eastern Pyrenees of southwestern Gaul, where he was killed after seeking sanctuary in a temple.^[9] An alleged prophecy at his birth had said Constans would die "in the arms of his grandmother". His place of death happens to have been named after Helena, mother of Constantine and his own grandmother, thus realizing the prophecy.^[28]

Regarding possible motives for Constans’ overthrow, ancient sources assert that he was widely unpopular,^[23][24][29] and attribute his downfall to his own failings. He is accused of employing corrupt ministers^[23][22][30] (one example being the magister officiorum Flavius Eugenius),^[24] neglecting portions of the empire,^[22][24] personal greed,^[23][22][12] and treating his soldiers with contempt.^[22][12] Ammianus lamented the emperor’s failure to listen to wise counsel,^[24] referencing one man he believed could have saved Constans from his own faults.^[31]

However, some modern scholars have questioned this portrayal. Harries observed how the ones behind Constans’ fall were a small number of people, that the setting for Magnentius’ coup was not a military centre, as well as Julian’s report that the usurper had to murder several of Constans’ generals to take control of the Gallic army, leading to her conclusion that Magnentius’ revolt was “the result of a private grudge on the part of an apprehensive official and not the outcome of widespread discontent among the military or the wider population.”^[32] This view is supported by Crawford, who additionally noted how the Illyrian forces proclaimed Vetranio emperor in opposition to Magnentius.^[33]

Harries does, however, note how the Gallic army accepted Magnentius seemingly without difficulty, and how according to Zosimus, Constantius’ official Philippus emphasized Constantine, rather than Constans, when addressing Magnentius’ troops.^[34] On speculating possible explanations for Constans’ overthrow, she suggested that one reason may have been regarding financial difficulties in Gaul by the end of his reign, which could have been related to the finance officer Marcellinus’ support of him.^[35] After Magnentius took power, he levied taxes, sold imperial estates in Gaul and debased the coinage.^[36] Baker-Brian also noted how Magnentius sent his brother Decentius to defend the region after Constans had neglected it, writing that, “it is apparent that among the reasons for Magnentius' rebellion was a desire to remedy Constans' governmental failings in Gaul.”^[37]

Family tree

v t e CONSTANTINIAN DYNASTY detailed family tree

Afranius Hannibalianus Eutropia Maximian Western emperor Theodora Constantius I Chlorus Western emperor 250-305-306 Helena 250–330 Maxentius Western emperor Constantia 293–330 ∞ Licinius 250-308-324-325 Flavius Dalmatius censor 1.Galla Julius Constantius d. 337 ∞ 2.Basilina Anastasia Eutropia Fausta 289–326 Constantine I the Great 272-306-337 Minervina Dalmatius caesar Hannibalianus (1) Constantius Gallus (2) Julian 331-360-363 Helena d. 360 Constantina ∞ 1.Hannibalianus 2.Constantius Gallus Constantius II 317-337-361 ∞ Faustina Constantine II Western emperor 316-337-340 Constans I Western emperor 320-337-350 (daughter) ∞ Justus Crispus d. 326 Jovian 331-363-364 Marina Severa Valentinian I Western emperor VALENTINIANIC DYNASTY Justina Constantia 361–383 Gratian Western emperor 359-367-383 Galla Theodosius I Eastern emperor THEODOSIAN DYNASTY

Family of Constans

Emperors are shown with a rounded-corner border with their dates as Augusti, names with a thicker border appear in both sections 1: Constantine's parents and half-siblings Claudius Gothicus 268–270 fabricated ancestry Helena Constantius Chlorus 305–306 Flavia Maximiana Theodora Constantine I 306–337 Flavius Dalmatius Hannibalianus Flavia Julia Constantia Licinius 308–324 Anastasia Bassianus Galla Julius Constantius Basilina Licinius II Eutropia Virius Nepotianus Hannibalianus Constantina Constantius Gallus Julian 360–363 Helena Nepotianus 2: Constantine's children Minervina Constantine I 306–337 Fausta Crispus Constantine II 337–340 Constans 337–350 Hannibalianus Constantina Constantius Gallus Faustina Constantius II 337–361 Helena Julian 360–363 Gratian 367–383 Constantia

See also

• Itineraries of the Roman emperors, 337–361

Notes

References

Sources

Primary sources

• Zosimus, Historia Nova II
• Aurelius Victor, Epitome de Caesaribus
• Eutropius, Breviarium ab urbe condita

Secondary sources

• Baker-Brian, Nicholas (2022). The Reign of Constantius II. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-0006-1991-1.
• Barnes, Timothy D. (1982). The New Empire of Diocletian and Constantine. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. doi:10.4159/harvard.9780674280670. ISBN 0-674-28066-0.
• Barnes, Timothy David (1993). Athanasius and Constantius: theology and politics in the Constantinian empire. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-05067-3.
• Crawford, Peter (2016). Constantius II: Usurpers, Eunuchs, and the Antichrist. Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1-78340-055-3.
• DiMaio, Michael; Frakes, Robert, Constans I (337–350 A.D.) (Archive), De Imperatoribus Romanis
• Harries, Jill (2012). Imperial Rome AD 284 to 363: The New Empire. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-0-7486-2052-4.
• Hunt, David (1998). "The successors of Constantine". In Averil Cameron & Peter Garnsey (eds.). The Cambridge Ancient History XIII: The Late Empire, A.D. 337–425. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-30200-5.
• Jones, A.H.M.; J.R. Martindale & J. Morris (1971). The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire Volume 1: A.D. 260–395. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-07233-6.
• Woudhuysen, George (2018). "Uncovering Constans' Image". In Alan J. Ross; Diederik W. P. Burgersdijk (eds.). Imagining Emperors in the Later Roman Empire. Brill. pp. 158–182. ISBN 978-9-0043-7092-0.
• Gibbon, Edward (1888) The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
• Norwich, John Julius (1989) Byzantium: The Early Centuries, Guild Publishing

External links

• Media related to Constans at Wikimedia Commons

Regnal titles
Preceded by Constantine I	Roman emperor 337–350 With: Constantius II and Constantine II	Succeeded by Magnentius Vetranio
Political offices
Preceded by Ursus Polemius	Roman consul 339 With: Constantius Augustus II	Succeeded by Septimius Acindynus L. Aradius Valerius Proculus
Preceded by Antonius Marcellinus Petronius Probinus	Roman consul II 342 With: Constantius Augustus III	Succeeded by M. Furius Placidus Romulus
Preceded by Amantius M. Nummius Albinus	Roman consul III 346 With: Constantius Augustus IV	Succeeded by Vulcacius Rufinus Eusebius