Constantius II AD 337-361 Gold Solidus Antioch

Constantius II AD 337-361 Gold Solidus

Diademed bust right/Enthroned figures of Roma and Constantinopolis holding shield inscribed VOT/XXXX in 2 lines

Antioch

RCV17769; 21mm, 4.38g

Ex HJB auction

A great portrait, small scratches to neck.

Constantius II AD 337-361

Constantius II was the longest surviving son of Constantine the Great and Fausta. Upon the execution of his half brother, Crispus, in AD 326 Constantius temporarily moved to Gaul before moving tom the east which is where he made his imperial career. Appointed Augustus upon the death of Constantine in AD 337 he was implicated in the massacre of the descendants of Constantius Chlorus which included Delmatius and Hanniballianus. Partitioning the empire with his brothers Constantine II and Constans Constantius received most of the eastern provinces including Constantinople.
The early part of his reign saw a prolonged campaign against the Persians but otherwise it was reasonably settled. When his brother Constans was murdered in AD 350 Magentius, a field commander, was proclaimed emperor of the Western empire. Constantius decided to march against the usurper but before doing so appointed his general Constantius Gallus as Caesar. He also came to terms with Ventranio, a general in Illyricum, who had also been proclaimed emperor by his troops but who later remained loyal to Constantius.
Meeting Magentius in Pannonia he defeated him at the Battle of Mursa Major which was one of the largest and most costly battles to take place during the Roman empire. Magnentius however survived fleeing back to Italy before eventually being run down in Gaul. Here he was defeated at the Battle of Mons Selucius in AD 353 and committed suicide. Meanwhile fearing that Constantius Gallus was being disloyal Constantius summoned him to Milan, stripped of his rank and had him executed.
Constantius showed relative tolerance toward Paganism which by this time had been replaced by Christianity as the official religion of the empire. He was though intolerant of Judaism which he subjected to severe restrictions. To help administer the empire he appointed one of his last relatives, Julian Apostate, as Caesar in AD 355. When Julian was proclaimed emperor by his own troops in AD 361 Constantius marched west to face him but fell ill and died before confronting him.