The Roman Emperor that I have chosen for this essay is Constantine. Constantine ruled the
Roman Empire from 306 – 337 A.D. He was the most important emperor of the Late Antiquity.
His powerful personality had laid down the foundations of the post-classical European civilization. Constantine’s reign was not only eventful, but it was also highly dramatic.
While Constantine’s father succeeded Augustus’ rank, Constantine had served under the distinction under both Diocletian and Galerius. He was then allowed to join his father in Britain and assisted him in a campaign against the Picts. When Constantine’s father died he returned back to Augusta Treverorum, which served as his residence for the next six years. Even though
Constantine and Maxentius were brothers-in- …show more content…
This had made Constantine the sole ruler of the western half of the empire.
The ultimate goal of sole power was pursued by both Constantine and Licinius. The first of two wars fought by the two emperors was at Cibalae in Pannonia. In this battle Licinius’ army had suffered heavy losses. In the second battle at Ardiensis, neither side had won a clear victory. A settlement left Licinius in his position as Augustus, but he was to secede all of his European provinces other than Thrace to Constantine.
During the year 326 Constantine ordered the execution of his oldest son Crispus. Crispus was appointed Caesar in 317, had served three times as a consul, and had distinguished himself in the campaign against Licinius. Zosimus had reports that Crispus had become under suspicion of
“being involved” with his stepmother Fausta. Constantine also executed Fausta, the mother of his other three sons. Although now it is nearly impossible to separate facts from gossip, and it’s hard to know with certainty what exactly happened between Crispus and Fausta. A connection between the deaths of Crispus and Fausta is likely.
I don’t think that Constantine was a very good ruler. He was compulsive. He killed his own
Roman Empire from 306 – 337 A.D. He was the most important emperor of the Late Antiquity.
His powerful personality had laid down the foundations of the post-classical European civilization. Constantine’s reign was not only eventful, but it was also highly dramatic.
While Constantine’s father succeeded Augustus’ rank, Constantine had served under the distinction under both Diocletian and Galerius. He was then allowed to join his father in Britain and assisted him in a campaign against the Picts. When Constantine’s father died he returned back to Augusta Treverorum, which served as his residence for the next six years. Even though
Constantine and Maxentius were brothers-in- …show more content…
This had made Constantine the sole ruler of the western half of the empire.
The ultimate goal of sole power was pursued by both Constantine and Licinius. The first of two wars fought by the two emperors was at Cibalae in Pannonia. In this battle Licinius’ army had suffered heavy losses. In the second battle at Ardiensis, neither side had won a clear victory. A settlement left Licinius in his position as Augustus, but he was to secede all of his European provinces other than Thrace to Constantine.
During the year 326 Constantine ordered the execution of his oldest son Crispus. Crispus was appointed Caesar in 317, had served three times as a consul, and had distinguished himself in the campaign against Licinius. Zosimus had reports that Crispus had become under suspicion of
“being involved” with his stepmother Fausta. Constantine also executed Fausta, the mother of his other three sons. Although now it is nearly impossible to separate facts from gossip, and it’s hard to know with certainty what exactly happened between Crispus and Fausta. A connection between the deaths of Crispus and Fausta is likely.
I don’t think that Constantine was a very good ruler. He was compulsive. He killed his own