Constantius Chlorus

Gaius Flavius Valerius Constantius (March 31, c. 250–July 25, 306) was an emperor of the Western Roman Empire (305–306). He was commonly called Chlorus (the Pale)From the Greek pale/yellow-greenish, an epithet given to him by Byzantine historians. He was the father of Constantine I.

History

He was born ca. 250. The Historia Augusta says he was the son of Eutropius, a noble from Dardania, and Claudia, a niece of the emperors Claudius II and Quintillus.Historia Augusta, Claudius 13 However, historians suspect this connection to be a genealogical fabrication created by his grandson Constantine II, thus connecting his family to two rather highly regarded predecessors. Under the emperor Carus he was governor of Dalmatia, and Carus is said to have considered adopting him as his heir in place of his dissolute son Carinus.Historia Augusta, Carus 17

In 293 he was appointed Caesar (junior emperor in the Tetrarchy) by the emperor Diocletian, and married Theodora, step-daughter of Diocletian's co-emperor Maximian. They had six children. Constantius already had a son, Constantine, by his first wife (or concubine) Helena, who was probably from Nicomedia in Asia Minor.Eutropius, Abridgement of Roman History 9.22; Zosimus, Historia Nova 2; He was given command of Gaul, Britain and possibly Spain. In 293, Constantius defeated the forces of Carausius, who had declared himself emperor in Britain and northern Gaul in 286, near Bononia. Carausius was killed by his rationalis Allectus, who took command of Britain until 296, when Constantius sent Asclepiodotus, a prefect of the Praetorian Guard, to invade the island. Allectus was defeated and killed, and Roman rule in Britain restored. Aurelius Victor, Liber de Caesaribus 39 Also in 296, Constantius fought a battle against the Alamanni at the city of Lingonae (Langes) in Gaul. He was shut up in the city, but was relieved by his army after six hours, and defeated the enemy.Eutropius, Abridgement of Roman History 9.23 He defeated them again at Vindonissa (Windisch, Switzerland). Thiese victories strengthened the defenses of the Rhine frontier.

Diocletian and Maximian stepped down as co-emperors in 305 due to Diocletian's poor health, and the Caesars, Contantius and Galerius, became co-emperors. Constantius ruled the western empire, Galerius the eastern. Severus and Maximinus were appointed Caesars. Constantine, who had hoped to be a Caesar, joined his father's campaigns in Gaul and Britain.Eutropius, Abridgement of Roman History 10.1, Aurelius Victor, Epitome de Caesaribus 39; Zosimus, Historia Nova 2 Constantius died in Britain, at York, in 306, and Constantine was declared emperor by the army.Eutropius, Abridgement of Roman History 10.1-2

Legend

Christian legends

As the father of Constantine, a number of Christian legends have grown up around Constantius. Eusebius's Life of Constantine claims that Constantius was himself a Christian, although he pretended to be a pagan, and while Caesar under Diocletian, took no part in the emperor's persecutions.Eusebius, Vita Contantini 1.13- His first wife, Helena, is the subject of many legends, including the finding of the True Cross.

British legends

Constantius's activities in Britain were remembered in medieval British legend. In Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain (1136), he is sent to Britain by the Senate after Asclepiodotus, here a British king, is overthrown by Coel of Colchester. Coel submitts to Contantius and agrees to pay tribute to Rome, but dies only eight days later. Constantius marries Coel's daughter Helena and becomes king of Britain. He and Helena have a son, Constantine, who succeeds to the throne of Britain when his father dies at York eleven years later.Geoffrey of Monmouth, Historia Regum Britanniae History of the Kings of Britain/Book 5#6 The identification of Helena as British had previously been made by Henry of Huntingdon, but has no historical validity: Constantius had divorced Helena before he went to Britain.

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