Ancient Rome - AD 324-337 Constantius II as Caesar, Reduced Follis NGC UNC Ex.Byzantium Hoard

Constantius Gallus (Flavius Claudius Constantius Gallus, earlier Flavius Claudius Gallus), c. A.D. 325/6-354, was Caesar A.D. 351-354. Constantius Gallus was one of the three grandsons of Theodora who survived execution by the sons of Constantine the Great in 337. Even though his father and brother were killed in that family purge, Gallus was permitted to live because he was ailing and presumed to die. Also surviving was his younger half-brother, Julian II. Both had the same father: Julius Constantius (consul in 335). The boys received a strict Christian education at the fortress of Macellum in Cappodocia. Constantius Gallus came to power in 351, a time of extreme crisis, when the East was threatened by the Sasanians while the West had recently fallen to Magnentius. The sole legitimate Augustus standing was Constantius II, who heretofore had ruled Asia Minor, while his brothers (who were now both dead) controlled Europe. But Constantius II was planning an extended stay in Europe to defeat Magnentius in order to recover Western territory. Therefore he decided to share Imperial power--and troubles-- with his eldest half-cousin, Constantius Gallus, who was then in his mid-20s. Gallus was hailed Caesar at Sirmium on March 15, 351, when he added Constantius to his name and married his Emperor's sister, Constantina, who had previously been married to his own cousin, Hanniballianus. Gallus was given the officer Thalassius to be his praetorian prefect by Constantius II, who remained in the Balkans. Constantius Gallus and Thalassius rushed off to Antioch, where they established court by the middle of May. At the time, the Asiatic provinces were quite peaceful, but Gallus reacted disproportionately  to the handful of problems that arose. That included conspiracies--both real and envisioned --which he crushed with all of his power. He squashed a rebellion in Isauria, and wrecked with terrible ferocity a revolt in Syria Palestina in 352 as well as a civilian riot at Antioch in later 353. Historian David Vagi writes, "His cruel and cavalier behavior made him unpopular with the public, the army and the palace eunuchs who had long held sway in the courts of the East." The root of his behavior is placed on his wife, Constantina, whom the historian Ammianus tells us was a "mortal fury." Constantius II was swamped with complaints about Gallus by the chamberlain Eusebius. The Augustus sent two men to investigate; however, Gallus so angered the soldiers and citizenry about the intrusion that the two men were hanged. Gallus was recalled to Milan in 354 by Constantius II. Arrested near the Italian border, Gallus was tried for crimes against the state and executed upon the orders of the emperor.