Constantius III
Augustus of the Western Roman Empire
Constantius on a solidus. The reverse shows Constantius as a general, holding Victory in one hand and a captive enemy in the other.
Co-Emperor of the Roman Empire (With Honorius)
Reign	8 February 421 – 2 September 421 (with Honorius)
Predecessor	Honorius (alone)
Successor	Honorius (alone)
Born	Unknown date Naissus, Moesia
Died	(421-09-02)2 September 421 Ravenna, Italy
Wife	Galla Placidia
Issue	Justa Grata Honoria, Valentinian III
Full name Flavius Constantius Regnal name Imperator Caesar Flavius Constantius Augustus

Constantius III (Latin: Flavius Constantius Augustus), was Western Roman Emperor in 421, from 8 February 421 to 2 September 421. He earned his position as Emperor due to his capability as a general under Honorius, achieving the rank of Magister militum by 411. That same year, he was sent to suppress the revolt of Constantine III, a Roman general who declared himself emperor. Constantius led his army to Arles in Gaul, the capital of Constantine III, and defeated Gerontius, a general rebelling against Constantine, before himself besieging Arles. After defeating a relief force led by Edobichus, Constantius convinced Constantine to surrender, promising safe retirement, but betrayed and beheaded him as soon as he surrendered. Constantius then went on to lead campaigns against various barbarian groups in Hispania and Gaul, recovering much of both for the Western Roman Empire. Constantius was proclaimed Western Roman Emperor by Honorius on 8 February 421. He reigned for seven months before dying on 2 September 421.

Life[edit]

Early life[edit]

Constantius was born in Naissus, Moesia at an unknown date.^[1][2] Constantius served as a general under Honorius, rising to the rank of Magister militum (Master of the Soldiers) by 411.^[2]

Revolt of Constantine III[edit]

In 411 Constantius was sent by Honorius to put down the revolt of Constantine III, who had declared himself emperor in Britain in 407.^[3] Constantius thereafter led his soldiers to Arles, the capital and residence of Constantine. Upon arriving, he defeated the army of Gerontius, a general who was rebelling against Constantine, before besieging the city.^[3]

Constantine refused to surrender, hoping to last until the return of his general Edobichus, who was raising troops in northern Gaul.^[4] Edobichus did return to Arles, however he was swiftly defeated by Constantius.^[5] Constantine soon after lost much of the remainder of his forces, as his army which had been guarding the Rhine chose to support the usurper Jovinus instead, forcing Constantine to surrender. Despite Constantius' assurances that Constantine would be able to safely retire to a clerical office, Constantius had him imprisoned, and further had him beheaded during his return to Ravenna, in either August or September 411.^[3] Honorius' remaining rivals were soon defeated, with Gerontius committing suicide in Hispania,^[6] and Jovinus being defeated by Athaulf, king of the Visigoths.^[5] Despite this, Honorius was unable to regain control of Britain, nor was any Roman after him.^[7]

Campaigns[edit]

Constantius initiated a campaign against the Visigoths in northern Hispania in 416, blockading them in order to starve them and force their submission. Soon after, the Visigoth king, Wallia, surrendered to Rome, agreeing to: return Galla Placidia, the sister of Honorius, who had been captured by Alaric c. 412, and been forced into marriage with Athaulf, who was by this time dead; to wage war against the Vandals and other barbarians who the Romans were still in conflict with, in exchange for food supplies.^[8] Constantius then continued to campaign against various tribal groups, regaining control of much of Hispania and Gaul by 420.^[9]

Reign[edit]

During this time period, generals played a critical role in ensuring the continued reign of Roman Emperors, especially Western Roman Emperors.^[10] Constantius' position of Magister militum and his skill as a commander allowed him to gain huge influence over the Western Roman Empire, comparable to the earlier Stilicho.^[2] For this reason, Honorius bestowed many honors upon Constantius,^[10] such as appointing him consul three times: in 414, alongside Constans; in 417, alongside Honorius;^[1][11] and in 420, alongside Theodosius II.^[1][12] In order to further ensure Constantius' loyalty, Honorius arranged the betrothal of his sister, Galla Placidia, to Constantius in 417.^[1] Later, on 8 February 421, Honorius made Constantius co-Western Emperor under himself. Constantius reigned as co-emperor only seven months before dying on 2 September 421, in Ravenna.^[1][13] Constantius was succeeded by Honorius, who ruled alone until his death in 423, whereupon Valentinian III, Constantius' son, assumed the throne, with Galla Placidia serving as regent.^[14]

References[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

• 
  Adkins, Lesley; Adkins, Roy A. (2014). Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome. Facts On File. ISBN 9780816074822. 
  


• 
  Birley, Anthony (1980). The People of Roman Britain. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520041196. 
  


• 
  Bury, J. B. (1889). A History of the Later Roman Empire, from Arcadius to Irene (395 A. D. to 800 A. D.). Macmillan and co. OCLC 933179049. 
  


• 
  Cooley, Alison E. (2012). The Cambridge Manual of Latin Epigraphy. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781139576604. 
  


• 
  Grant, Michael (2015). From Rome to Byzantium: The Fifth Century AD. Routledge. ISBN 9781135166724. 
  


• 
  Jones, A. H. M. (1992). The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire: Volume 2, AD 395-527. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521201599. 
  


• 
  Lee, A. D. (2013). From Rome to Byzantium AD 363 to 565. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 9780748668359. 
  


• 
  Ring, Trudy; Watson, Noelle; Schellinger, Paul (2013). Southern Europe: International Dictionary of Historic Places. Taylor and Francis. ISBN 9781134259656. 
  


• 
  Sivan, Hagith (2011). Galla Placidia: The Last Roman Empress. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195379129. 
  

External links[edit]