Constantius II

(Flavius Julius Constantius)

Augustus (350AD-361AD)

Constantius II was the middle son of Constantine, and the longest living. When Constantine died, in 337 AD, he divided the empire between his three sons, and some of his nephews. However, the army immediately murdered Constantius' cousins, declaring only the sons of Constantine could rule. Constantius' jurisdiction was over the East of the empire. In 340 AD his brother Constantine II invaded the territory of his other brother Constans, who successfully fought him off, and Constantine II died in battle. Constantius and Constans divided the empire between them until 350 AD when Constans died in Magnentius' rebellion. Constantius defeated Magnentius and ruled the empire as a whole for some time before deciding that he needed a successor and a partner. He first selected his cousin Constantius Gallus and made him Caesar and married him to his sister Constantina. But in 354 AD, after suspecting Gallus of treason, he had him executed. He then appointed Gallus' half brother Julian as Caesar and married him to his other sister, Helena. Julian was given control of the West where he soon proved himself to be popular and competent general. Constantius, jealous of his cousin's success, demanded Julian hand over some troops to help him against a Persian threat in the East. When Julian read his cousin's demands to his troops, they rebelled and proclaimed Julian Augustus. Julian quickly pressed his advantage, marching towards Constantinople, but by then, in 361 AD, Constantius had died of a fever.

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