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OnDaFence 36M/44M
44267 posts
1/17/2017 5:47 pm

Last Read:
1/18/2017 5:22 pm

1667 Years Ago



Constans was the third and youngest of Constantine the Great and Fausta, his father's second wife.He was educated at the court of his father at Constantinople under the tutelage of the poet Aemilius Magnus Arborius.



With Constantine’s death in 337, Constans and his two brothers, Constantine II and Constantius II, divided the Roman world between themselves and disposed of virtually all relatives who could possibly have a claim to the throne.



Constans was initially under the guardianship of Constantine II. The original settlement assigned Constans the praetorian prefectures of Italy and Africa



Annoyed that Constans had received Thrace and Macedonia after the death of Dalmatius, ConstantineII demanded that Constans hand over the African provinces, which he agreed to do in order to maintain a fragile peace. Soon, however, they began quarreling over which parts of the African provinces belonged to Carthage,and thus Constantine II's , and which belonged to Italy, and therefore Constans'. This led to growing tensions between the two brothers, which were only heightened by Constans finally coming of age and Constantine II refusing to give up his guardianship.



In 340 Constantine II invaded Italy. Constans, at that time in Dacia, detached and sent a select and disciplined body of his Illyrian troops, stating that he would follow them in person with the remainder of his forces. Constantine II was eventually trapped at Aquileia, where he died, leaving Constans to inherit all of his brother’s former territories – Hispania, Britannia and Gaul



Constans began his reign in an energetic fashion. In 341-42, he led a successful campaign against the Franks, and in the early months of 343 he visited Britain. The source for this visit, Julius Firmicus Maternus, does not provide a reason, but the quick movement and the danger involved in crossing the channel in the dangerous winter months suggests it was in response to a military emergency, possibly to repel the Picts and Scots.



The Roman historian Eutropius says Constans "indulged in great vices," in reference to his homosexuality, and Aurelius Victor stated that Constans had a reputation for scandalous behaviour with "handsome barbarian hostages."



In the final years of his reign, Constans developed a reputation for cruelty and misrule. Dominated by favorites and openly preferring his select bodyguard.



In 350, the general Magnentius declared himself emperor at Augustodunum with the support of the troops on the Rhine frontier and, later, the western provinces of the Empire. Constans was enjoying himself nearby when he was notified of the elevation of Magnentius. Lacking any support beyond his immediate household, he was forced to flee for his life. As he was trying to reach Hispania, supporters of Magnentius cornered him in a fortification in Helena (now Elne) in the eastern Pyrenees of southwestern Gaul, where he was killed om January 18, 350 AD after seeking sanctuary in a temple.



A 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.

Good Day!

OnDaFence 36M/44M

1/17/2017 6:07 pm

-I-


OnDaFence 36M/44M

1/17/2017 6:08 pm

-II-


OnDaFence 36M/44M

1/17/2017 6:08 pm

-III-


OnDaFence 36M/44M

1/17/2017 6:08 pm

-IV-


Hungr4Yungr 75M
5766 posts
1/17/2017 6:45 pm

That is a very interesting story of Roman history. I really enjoyed reading it and enhancing my knowledge base. Thank you.


OnDaFence 36M/44M

1/17/2017 7:26 pm

    Quoting Hungr4Yungr:
    That is a very interesting story of Roman history. I really enjoyed reading it and enhancing my knowledge base. Thank you.
I expanded my knowledge quite a bit on this one too. The later emperors get tossed in a heap for us as most of their coins are plentiful, costing very little to own.


OnDaFence 36M/44M

1/17/2017 7:28 pm

    Quoting  :

I honestly looked it up!.... There are no murals or mosaics that survived the era depicting his "debauchery" I did find that coin commemorating his trip to England though.


OnDaFence 36M/44M

1/17/2017 8:17 pm

as a side note... That last coin of Constan's was minted at Sisak, Yugoslavia  by the 5th workshop the ESIS at the bottom of the back of the coin being it's mint mark the "E" denoting the 5th workshop at the mint... so any underweight coins can be traced back to those who made them. The mint was closed around 387 A.D.  after I believe the Dacians took over that area.

That top of the 3 coins was made in Rome by crew "Q" or #17

The middle coin was minted at Thessalonica "Salonika," Greece  which minted coins from from 298 A.D. - until  closed by Leo I around 446 AD


OnDaFence 36M/44M

1/17/2017 9:43 pm

almost as old as BiBBzzzzzzzzzzzz!


OnDaFence 36M/44M

1/18/2017 8:48 am

    Quoting  :

These are the waning days of the Roman Empire and the constant warfare between rivals hastened the end.