The life of Constantius chlorus
|
Birth name:
Other names: Born: Died: Cause of death: Reign: Co-emperor: Dynasty: Predecessor: Successor: |
Marcus Flavius Valerius Constantius Herculius
Imperator Caesar Marcus Flavius Valerius Constantius Herculius Augustus 31 March, c. 250 - Darania 25 July, 306 - Eboracum, Britannia (aged 56) Natural causes 1 May, 305 – 25 July, 306 (1 year, 2 months) Galerius Tetrarchy/Constantinian Diocletian & Maximian Constantine I, Flavius Valerius Severus & Galerius |
Early Life (c. 250-293)
Constantius Chlorus was born in Dardania, a region of Moesia, in 250. The status of the family he was born into is unknown, the Historia Augusta claims his father was a nobleman but modern historians believe this to be a fabrication by Constantine to make the family appear to come from an elite background. In his youth Constantius fought in the eastern campaigns during the reign of Aurelian, whose favour he earned for his devotion to the Roman Empire. During the reign of Carus he served as the governor of Dalmatia.
After Diocletian took the throne in 285 it is likely that Constantius switched allegiances to him from the Caran dynasty. By 286 Diocletian was ruling the Roman Empire in the East, and had appointed a co-emperor, Maximian, to rule the West. In 288 Constantius was now serving as Praetorian Prefect under Maximian in Rome. While in this role Constantius battled against the Alamanni tribes of the Rhine and Danube regions, who were frequently crossing into Roman territory. Constantius was clearly an ambitious man as in 289 he divorced his wife to marry Theodora, the daughter of Maximian.
After Diocletian took the throne in 285 it is likely that Constantius switched allegiances to him from the Caran dynasty. By 286 Diocletian was ruling the Roman Empire in the East, and had appointed a co-emperor, Maximian, to rule the West. In 288 Constantius was now serving as Praetorian Prefect under Maximian in Rome. While in this role Constantius battled against the Alamanni tribes of the Rhine and Danube regions, who were frequently crossing into Roman territory. Constantius was clearly an ambitious man as in 289 he divorced his wife to marry Theodora, the daughter of Maximian.
Reign as Caesar (293-305)
The Emperor Diocletian had understood that the Roman Empire was far too large for one man to rule alone, which is why he had appointed Maximian as his colleague and co-emperor. He took this a step further by forming what would be known as the Tetrarchy, the rule of four. In addition to the two ruling emperors each would appoint their own successor, a caesar, who would act as their deputy and eventually succeed them. Maximian was keen to elevate his new son-in-law to new levels of power, and approached Diocletian on the matter.
Both emperors confirmed Constantius' appointment as caesar in the West on 1 March 293, to serve under Maximian while in the East Diocletian chose Galerius as his caesar. As part of his appointment Constantius was tasked with overseeing Gaul, Britannia and Hispania. He made Augusta Treverorum his base of operations and capital, which is modern day Trier in Germany. From here he launched a campaign that sought to eliminate the usurper Carausius who had declared himself emperor and taken parts of Britannia and Gaul for himself. By the end of 293 Constantius had claimed the victory of Carausius who was assassinated by one of his own men during the campaign. However Britannia remained in the control of one of Carausius' allies, Allectus.
After dealing with the threat of the usurper, Constantius turned his attention towards the Alamanni in Gaul. Here he successfully won a number of victories against them near the Rhine region. He held this location until Maximian was able to arrive with reinforcements after which their combined forces crossed the English Channel and defeated Allectus in battle near the Isle of Wight. Constantius moved on to London and re-captured the city for the Roman Empire. Constantius spent some time re-organising the province of Britannia as well as repairing Hadrian's Wall and its bastions before leaving for Gaul once again, where the Alamanni were causing more trouble. Constantius fought the Alamanni at the Battle of Lingones in 298 and then at the Battle of Vindonissa in 299, securing the frontier in Gaul and Germania.
Both emperors confirmed Constantius' appointment as caesar in the West on 1 March 293, to serve under Maximian while in the East Diocletian chose Galerius as his caesar. As part of his appointment Constantius was tasked with overseeing Gaul, Britannia and Hispania. He made Augusta Treverorum his base of operations and capital, which is modern day Trier in Germany. From here he launched a campaign that sought to eliminate the usurper Carausius who had declared himself emperor and taken parts of Britannia and Gaul for himself. By the end of 293 Constantius had claimed the victory of Carausius who was assassinated by one of his own men during the campaign. However Britannia remained in the control of one of Carausius' allies, Allectus.
After dealing with the threat of the usurper, Constantius turned his attention towards the Alamanni in Gaul. Here he successfully won a number of victories against them near the Rhine region. He held this location until Maximian was able to arrive with reinforcements after which their combined forces crossed the English Channel and defeated Allectus in battle near the Isle of Wight. Constantius moved on to London and re-captured the city for the Roman Empire. Constantius spent some time re-organising the province of Britannia as well as repairing Hadrian's Wall and its bastions before leaving for Gaul once again, where the Alamanni were causing more trouble. Constantius fought the Alamanni at the Battle of Lingones in 298 and then at the Battle of Vindonissa in 299, securing the frontier in Gaul and Germania.
Diocletian's Edict
In 303 Constantius was faced with orders regarding Diocletian's edict, the last ever persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. The edicts were designed to curb Christianity by forcing them to adopt traditional Roman religious practices, and they attempted to have Christian's perform sacrifices to the Roman Gods.
Galerius was more than happy to comply and set about putting the edict into action, by doing this he hoped to earn Diocletian's favour and be put above Constantius in the Tetrarchy hierarchy. Constantius did not rise to the occasion, as he had never had any ill feelings towards Christians. Of all the provinces in the Roman Empire it was his that saw the least effort to enact the edicts. With Gaul and Britannia in particular being virtually unaffected.
Galerius was more than happy to comply and set about putting the edict into action, by doing this he hoped to earn Diocletian's favour and be put above Constantius in the Tetrarchy hierarchy. Constantius did not rise to the occasion, as he had never had any ill feelings towards Christians. Of all the provinces in the Roman Empire it was his that saw the least effort to enact the edicts. With Gaul and Britannia in particular being virtually unaffected.
Reign as emperor (305-306)
Meetings had already taken place between the tetrarchs to discuss the transition of power. It was agreed that once Diocletian and Maximian either retired or died, Constantius and Galerius would succeed them, and their sons Constantine and Maxentius would replace them as caesars. In 305 Diocletian and Maximian both retired, and in front of an audience at Milan Constantius was publicly declared as the new Roman Emperor of the West. In Nicomedia in the East, the same event happened for Galerius.
In 305 Constantius journeyed to Britannia and travelled to the far northern reaches to battle the Picts, and earned himself the title Britannicus Maximus II in 306 after winning numerous victories.
In 305 Constantius journeyed to Britannia and travelled to the far northern reaches to battle the Picts, and earned himself the title Britannicus Maximus II in 306 after winning numerous victories.
Death & Legacy (306)
Constantius' expedition into Britannia was cut short after he fell ill in the summer of 306. It is not entirely clear what the reason for his death is, only that it was from natural causes. On 25 July 306 Constantius died and his son Constantine was declared emperor by the legions at Eboracum.
Galerius had complicated the matters however, as he had convinced Diocletian and Maximian to appoint two others as their successors instead, Severus and Maximinus Daia.
Galerius had complicated the matters however, as he had convinced Diocletian and Maximian to appoint two others as their successors instead, Severus and Maximinus Daia.
Trivia
- Some legends hold that Constantius was a Christian but only pretended to follow the pagan Gods in order to appease Diocletian.