Constantius II - Flavius Julius Valerius Constantius (ca. AD 317 - 361): Son of Constantine the Great and Fausta; Brother of Constantine II, Constans, Constantina (wife of Hanniballianus and Constantius Gallus) and Helena the Younger (wife of Julian II); Half-brother of Crispus; Half- cousin of Delatius, Hanniballianus, Constantius Gallus, Julian II, Licinius II and Nepotian; Grandson of Constantius I Chlorus, Helena, Maximian and Eutropia; Father of Constantia (wife of Gratian).

Mints: Alexandria, Ambianum, Antioch, Aquileia, Arelate, Constantinopolis, Cyzicus, Heraclea, Londinium, Lugdunum, Mediolanum, Nicomedia, Rome, Sirmium, Siscia, Thessalonica, Ticinum, Treveri.

Biography: Constantius was the third son of Constantine the Great. After a long stint as a Caesar from 324 until his father's death in 337 he became a joint emperor (Augustus), 337-50, and sole titular emperor, 350-361. His road to the throne was a long one and punctuated by the overthrow of his older brother Constantine III by his younger brother Constans I in 340, the assassination of the later by a usurper, Magnentius, in 350, and the revolt and repentance of another usurper, Vetranio. In the meantime Constantius II had to unleash the western legions against the Germans in Gaul and along the Danube, while he himself took off east to hold the Persians at bay. It was the revolt of another pretender, Julian that forced him to turn back and on the march through Cilicia Constantius II contracted a fatal fever and died. Aside from political affairs threatening to tear the Empire apart, Constantius II contributed to internal controversy by embracing Arianism, the doctrine that held Christ as created and inferior to God. He was a modest and industrious person, led a frugal life, and inspired loyalty among his followers.

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