Julian II, the Apostate As Caesar, 335-360 AD As Augustus, 360-363 AD Brother of Constantinis Gallus Nephew of Constantine the Great via Theodora Flavius Claudius Julianus was born in Constantinople around 332 AD, the son of Julius Constantius, who was the half-brother of Constantine the Great. His father was born by the second wife of Constantius […]

Constantius Gallus, Caesar 351-354 AD Flavius Claudius Constantius was initially named Gallus. He was a descendant of Constantius I Chlorus with 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 […]

Vetranio 350AD Temporary Joint Emperor of Illyricum Vetranio was an elderly general who held the rank of magister militum under Constans. During the period of uncertainty following the downfall of the Emperor and Magnentius’ rise to power, Constantius‘ sister, Constantia, convinced Vetranio to become temporary joint Emperor in an effort to keep Magnentius in check while Constantius was otherwise engaged on the […]

The Monetary History of the Imperial Rome Chapter III By Martin A. Armstrong Claudius II died of the plague in 270 AD and was eventually succeeded by one of his leading generals – Aurelian. It was during the reign of Aurelian when the relentless attacks by the barbarians came to a temporary halt. Aurelian also […]

The Monetary History of the Imperial Rome Chapter V By Martin A. Armstrong Following the death of Constantius II in 360 AD, the empire fell into the hands of the last heir of Constantine The Great – Julian II (360-363 AD) . Julian also instituted economic and governmental reforms as well as religious reforms due […]

The Monetary History of the Imperial Rome Chapter VI By Martin A. Armstrong Theodosius I died in 395 AD and was succeeded by his son and co-emperor Arcadius (383-408 AD) in the East and his youngest son, Honorius (383-423 AD) succeeded in the West. Under the reigns of Arcadius and Honorius, we only find the heavy miliarense, miliarense, siliqua […]

The Monetary History of the Imperial Rome Chapter II By Martin A. Armstrong Following the death of Caracalla in 217 AD, the double aureus did not immediately survive. The double aureus was finally reintroduced around 249 AD by Trajan Decius (249 – 251 AD). The silver antoninianus did manage to hang on briefly, but it was not issued in substantial quantities. It completely disappeared from […]

Flavia Maxima Fausta Wife of Constantine Daughter Maximianus Mother of Constantine II, Constantius II and Constans Flavia Maxima Fausta was the daughter of Maximianus. In 307 AD, when she was about seventeen, she was married to Constantine the Great to seal his alliance with the regime of her father and her brother, Maxentius, in Rome. On this occasion, she […]

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 […]

Martius Martinianus 324 AD Martius Martinianus was a leading general under Licinus I before the showdown between Licinius and Constantine in 324 AD. As fate would have it, the two armies of Constantine and Licinius met at Hadrianopolis on July 3rd. Constantine won a significant victory, and Licinius fled across the Bosphorus along with Martinianus. […]