Zeno 474-481 AD Emperor of the East Zeno was an Isaurian Chieftain named Tarasicodissa. He came to Constantinople during the reign of Leo I where he first changed his name to Zeno. In 467 AD, Zeno married the Emperor’s eldest daughter, Ariadne who bore him a son, the future Emperor Leo II. The Emperor Leo I had no heir […]

Aelia Flaccilla Empress 379-386 AD Wife of Theodosius I Aelia Flaccilla was the first living Empress to be accorded the right of coinage since Helena and Fausta sixty years before. Aelia Flaccilla was the wife of Theodosius I. They were married about 376 AD, several years before her husband’s accession to the throne. Aelia was the mother of […]

Constantius Gallus, Caesar 351-354 AD Flavius Claudius Constantius was initially named Gallus. He was a descendant of Constantius I Chlorus through his second wife, Theodora. Gallus was the half-brother of the future Emperor Julian II, the son of Constantius and Galla. He grew up at a court in Constantinople under Constantine the Great, a descendant of […]

Constantine II As Caesar, 317 – 337 AD As Augustus, 337 – 340 AD Eldest son of Constantine the Great Flavius Claudius Constantinus was the eldest son of Constantine I the Great and Fausta. Constantine II was born in 314 AD and was given the rank of Caesar in 317 AD when he was obviously very young. Constantine II appears to have inherited […]

Constantine I The Great 307 – 337AD Flavius Valerius Constantinus was the son of Constantius I Chlorus by his first marriage with Helena, known to Christians as St Helena. Constantine was born at Naissus in Upper Moesia on February 27th. The year is not quite certain, however, it was either 280 – 282 or 272 – 273 AD. As […]

Theodora Stepmother of Constantine Stepdaughter of Maximianus Flavia Maximiana Theodora was the stepdaughter of Maximianus. Theodora’s parents were Afranius Hannibalianus and Eutropia, who later became the wife of Maximianus. Theodora’s real father, Hannibalianus, was consul in 292 AD and had been the Praetorian Prefect under Diocletian. Theodora was married to Constantius I (father of Constantine the […]

Carausius Usurper of Britain 287 – 293 AD Marcus Aurelius Mausaeus Carausius was a man of humble origin who came from Menapia, an area in Belgium. Nevertheless, he rose through the ranks due to a distinguished career. Carausius gained much fame for his military skills during in the campaigns under Emperor Maximianus (286-305AD) against the Franks and the […]

Diocletian 284 – 305 AD Died 316 AD Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus was born to a poor family in Dalmatia (ILLYRICUM) during the mid-3rd century AD. Diocletian entered military service, where he displayed a talent for leadership, prompting his career to advance. By 284 AD, Diocletian became a member of the legions under Emperor Carus and continued to […]

Julia Domna Wife of Septimus Severus Died 217 AD Julia Domna was born at Emesa in Syria but traveled to Rome as a young woman in 173 AD. In Rome, Julia met General Septimius Severus who was a fanatic about astrology. Upon learning that her astrological chart foretold that she would marry a great king, Septimius […]

Abscissa – the horizontal baseline of a chart, x-axis. Ad Valorem Tax – A tax levied as a fixed percentage of the value of a particular item. Aggregate Demand – Total planned or desired spending in the economy as a whole in a given period. It is determined by the aggregate price level and by influences such as […]