Read more
Constantius II, son of Constantine the Great, ruled the Roman Empire between 337 and 361 CE. Constantius' reign is characterised by a series of political and cultural upheavals and is rightly viewed as a time of significant change in the history of the fourth century. Constantius initially shared power with his brothers, Constantine II and Constans, but this arrangement lasted a short period of time before Constantine II was killed in a contest over authority by Constans. Further threats to the stability of the empire arose with the usurpation of the ambitious Roman general Magnentius between 350 and 353, and additional episodes of imperial instability occurred as Constantius' relations with his junior Caesars, Gallus and Julian, deteriorated, the latter to the point where civil war would have been on the cards once again if Constantius had not died on 3 November 361.
This book examines the dynastic, political and cultural impact of Constantius' reign as a member of the Constantinian family on the later empire, first as a joint ruler with his brothers and then as sole Augustus. The chapters investigate the involvement of Constantius in the imperial, administrative, legal, religious and cultural life of the Roman Empire in the fourth century. Constantius' handling of various threats to Roman hegemony such as the ambitions of the neighbouring Sasanian Empire, and his relationships with Gallus and with Julian are explored. The book's analysis is guided by the epigraphic, iconographic, literary and legal evidence of the Roman and Byzantine periods but it is not a conventional imperial 'biography'. Rather, it examines the figure of Constantius in light of the numerous historiographical issues surrounding his memorialisation in the historical and literary sources, for instance as 'Arian' tyrant or as internecine murderer. The over-arching aim is to investigate power in the post-Constantine period, and the way in which imperial and episcopal networks related to one another with the ambition of participating in the exercise of power.
The Reign of Constantius II will appeal to those interested in the Later Roman Empire, the Constantinian imperial family, Roman-Sasanian relations, and the role of religion in shaping imperial dynamics with Christianity.
List of contents
Chapter 1 Introduction: The Roman Empire of Constantine's Sons / Chapter 2 Seeing and Reading the Sons of Constantine / Chapter 3 Writing Constantius II / Chapter 4 Making and Shaping a Dynasty / Chapter 5 Upholding the Legacy: The Dynasty between 340-350 / Chapter 6 New Faces, Old Enemies / Chapter 7 Sole Augustus / Chapter 8 War and Little Peace: Constantius II's Final Years / Chapter 9 Afterword: A Funeral and a Usurpation / Bibliography
About the author
Nicholas Baker-Brian is Reader in Ancient Religions in the School of History, Archaeology and Religion at Cardiff University. He has published extensively on the late antique period, including most recently the co-edited volumes,
A Companion to Religion in Late Antiquity (2018),
The Sons of Constantine, AD 337¿361 (2020) and
Studia Patristica Vol. 102 (2021).
Summary
This book examines the dynastic, political and cultural impact of Constantius' reign as a member of the Constantinian family on the later empire, first as a joint ruler with his brothers and then as sole Augustus.
