Ancient Rome - AD 317-337 Constantine II as Caesar, Reduced Follis NGC UNC Ex.Byzantium Hoard

Constantine II (Flavius Claudius, or Julius, Constantinus), c. A.D. 316-340, served as Caesar from A.D. 316-337, and Augustus from A.D. 337-340. The son of Constantine the Great, he was born in Arles in southern Gaul and spent most of his life in the western provinces. Before he was a year old, he was given the rank of Caesar along with his much older half-brother Crispus. Constantine II was elected consul four times: 320, 321, 324, and 329. At the age of 7 he accompanied his half-brother Crispus on campaign in Germany (323). In 326 Constantine II lost two close family members: his mother Fausta and brother Crispus. They were executed by his ruthless father in an atmosphere mired in suspected treason and infidelity. Motherless and only 10 years old, Constantine II was now the senior heir to the throne. He was sent to Trier to take over Crispus' Gallic command post. In order to acknowledge his important promotion, in 328 his birthplace of Arles was renamed Constantina in his honor. At 12 years of age he was credited with defeating the Alemanni, although he was only at his father's side during the campaign. 322 saw him leave the Rhine frontier and join his father's campaign against the Goths and Sarmatians in Thrace and Moesia. Near the end of 335, Constantine the Great announced his plan of succession. Since he had a great familiarity with the western provinces, Constantine II was allotted Gaul, Britain, and Spain, as well as the westernmost portion of North Africa (south of Spain). Constantine the Great died in May 337. Within 110 days of his death, the three sons of Constantine conspired to murder Dalmatius and Hanniballianus along with most of their family members. Constantine II, as senior Augustus, was supposedly in the position of greatest authority and responsibility, but ended up as odd man out. His western lands were remote, troubled, and impoverished, in contrast to those given his two younger brothers. Tensions grew, and in June 338 the three brothers met to settle territorial disputes, which made things worse for Constantine II. His brothers had formed an alliance against him. The spring of 340 saw Constantine II launch a surprise attack against his brother Constans, who was away in the Balkans. However, his brother's large army ambushed him near Aquileia. The 24-year-old Constantine II was killed in battle, his body tossed into the Alsa river.