ABSTRACT

After the death of Constantine there was a curious interregnum of three months. Then the army at Constantinople mutinied and, declaring that they would have no emperors but Constantine’s sons, massacred the Caesar Dalmatius, another nephew, Hannibalianus, the late emperor’s two half-brothers, Constantius and Dalmatius, and two elder statesmen, Optatus and Ablabius. Constantine, Constantius and Constans were then proclaimed Augusti, the first ruling the Gauls with Britain and Spain, the second the East with Thrace from Dalmatius’ portion, the third Italy and Africa with Illyricum, which had belonged to Dalmatius. Constantine, as the eldest, was apparently given some titular primacy, and when Constans ignored it invaded Italy to be defeated and killed. Constantius succeeded to a Persian war which had broken out shortly before his father’s death. The Persian king had ejected the pro-Roman and Christian king of Armenia, and Constantine had responded by declaring his nephew Hannibalianus king of Armenia. The war was bitterly fought and exhausting to both sides but indecisive. It continued with intervals of quiescence during the whole of Constantius’ reign.