Constantius II
A Roman emperor who spent his tumultuous reign desperately holding a fracturing empire together through constant war and religious conflict.
Born 317 (age 1709)·Roman emperor from 337 to 361·Birthday: August 7
Biography
Constantius II inherited a third of the Roman Empire after the death of his father, Constantine the Great, and spent the next 24 years fighting to reclaim the rest. His rule was defined by the relentless pressure of frontiers: he battled Persian armies in the east and Germanic tribes along the Danube and Rhine. More damaging were the civil wars against a series of usurpers and, most painfully, his own brothers and then his cousin. A devout Christian of the Arian persuasion, Constantius saw religious unity as key to imperial stability, but his heavy-handed policies, which included exiling orthodox bishops, often sparked more dissent. He presided over a court riven with suspicion and intrigue, where a whispered accusation could mean death. By the time he died of a fever in 361, he had nominally reunited the empire, but the deep theological and political fractures he managed with force would crack open again after his death, setting the stage for the final pagan revival under his successor, Julian.
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Constantius's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
317Born
322Started school
330Became a teenager
333Could drive
335Could vote
338Turned 21
347Turned 30
357Turned 40
367Turned 50
377Turned 60
387Turned 70
397Turned 80
2026Age 1709 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Successfully defended the eastern frontier against repeated invasions by the powerful Sasanian Persian Empire.
- Ultimately reunified the Roman Empire after a decade of civil war following the death of Constantine the Great.
- Convened and influenced several major church councils in an attempt to impose Arian Christian doctrine as orthodoxy.
- Founded the city of Constantinople as a fully-fledged imperial capital, building upon his father's work.
Did You Know?
He was the last sole ruler of the entire Roman Empire before its permanent division into East and West.
He reportedly had a great interest in theology and engaged directly in complex doctrinal debates.
His paranoia led to the execution of his own cousin, Gallus Caesar, whom he had appointed as a junior co-emperor.
He died not in battle or by assassination, but from a sudden illness while marching to confront his rebellious cousin Julian.
“The frontiers are restless; the army must be ready to march at dawn.”
