Constantine III (Western Roman emperor) - Wikipedia Constantine III (Western Roman emperor) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigation Jump to search Roman emperor from 407 to 411 Not to be confused with Constantius III or Constantine III (Byzantine emperor). Roman emperor Constantine III Coin of Constantine III Roman emperor Reign Usurper 407–409 (against Emperor Honorius) Co-emperor 409–411 (with Honorius and Constans II) Predecessor Gratian Successor Honorius Died 411 (before 18 September) Issue Constans II Julianus[1] Names Flavius Claudius Constantinus Religion Nicene Christianity Flavius Claudius Constantinus,[2] known in English as Constantine III (died shortly before 18 September 411), was a Roman general who declared himself Western Roman Emperor in Britannia in 407 and established himself in Gaul. He was co-emperor from 409 until 411.[3] Constantine rose to power during a bloody struggle in Roman Britain and was acclaimed emperor by the local legions in 407. He promptly moved to Gaul, taking all of the mobile troops from Britain, to confront the various Germanic invaders who had crossed the Rhine the previous winter. Constantine gained the upper hand after several battles with the forces of the Western Roman Emperor Honorius. As a result, Honorius recognised Constantine as co-emperor in 409. The activities of the invading tribes, raids by Saxons on the near-defenseless Britain and desertions by some of his top commanders led to a collapse of support. After further military setbacks he abdicated in 411. He was captured and executed shortly afterwards. Contents 1 Life 1.1 Recognition as co-emperor 1.2 March on Italy 1.3 Surrender and execution 2 Legend 3 See also 4 References 5 Sources 5.1 Primary sources 5.2 Secondary sources 6 External links Life[edit] Roman Gaul prior to the crossing of the Rhine In 406, the provinces of Roman Britain revolted. The garrisons had not been paid and had determined to choose their own leader.[4] Their first two choices, Marcus and Gratian, did not meet their expectations and were killed. Fearful of a Germanic invasion and desperate for some sense of security in a world that seemed to be rapidly falling apart, the Roman military in Britain sought greater security in strong and able military leadership and chose as their leader a man named after the famed emperor of the early fourth century, Constantine the Great, who had himself risen to power through a military coup in Britain.[5] Constantine was a common soldier, but one of some ability.[6] Early in 407, they acclaimed him as emperor.[7][2] Constantine moved quickly. He crossed the Channel at Bononia (Boulogne) and (historians have assumed) took with him all of the mobile troops left in Britain, thus denuding the province of any first line military protection and explaining the disappearance of the legions from Britannia in the early fifth century.[8] The Roman forces in Gaul (modern France) declared for him, followed by most of those in Hispania (modern Spain). On 31 December 406 several tribes of barbarian invaders, including the Vandals, the Burgundians, the Alans and the Sueves had crossed the Rhine, perhaps near Mainz, and overrun the Roman defensive works in a successful invasion of the Western Roman Empire.[9] Constantine's forces won several confrontations with the Vandals and quickly secured the line of the Rhine. The sitting Western emperor, Honorius, ordered Stilicho, his leading general, or magister militum, to expel Constantine. Sarus the Goth, a commander of Honorius, defeated two of Constantine's generals, Iustinianus and the Frank Nebiogastes, who were leading the vanguard of his forces.[10] Constantine's lieutenant, Nebiogastes, was first trapped in, then killed outside, Valence.[11] Constantine sent another army headed by Edobichus and Gerontius, and Sarus retreated into Italy, needing to buy his passage through the Alpine passes from the brigand Bagaudae, who controlled them.[12] With these advances, Constantine controlled all of Gaul and garrisoned the Alpine passes into Italy.[13] By May 408 he had made Arles his capital,[14] where he appointed Apollinaris, the grandfather of Sidonius Apollinaris, as prefect.[15] Recognition as co-emperor[edit] In the summer of 408, the Roman forces in Italy assembled to attack Constantine. Hispania was a stronghold of the House of Theodosius[14] and loyal to the ineffectual Honorius. Constantine feared that Honorius' cousins would organise an attack from that direction while troops under Sarus and Stilicho attacked him from Italy in a pincer manoeuvre. He struck first at Hispania.[16] He summoned his eldest son, Constans, from the monastery where he was dwelling, elevated him to Caesar,[17] and sent him with the general Gerontius towards Hispania,[8] where they defeated the cousins of Honorius with little difficulty; two – Didymus and Verinianus – were captured, and two others – Lagodius and Theodosiolus – escaped, Lagodius to Rome and Theodosiolus to Constantinople.[18] Constans left his wife and household at Saragossa under the care of Gerontius and returned to Arles to report to his father.[19] Meanwhile, the loyalist Roman army mutinied at Ticinum (Pavia) on 13 August, which was followed by the execution of Honorius' general Stilicho on 22 August.[18] Intrigue within the Imperial court caused the general Sarus and his men to abandon the western army. This left Honorius in Ravenna without any significant military power, and facing a Gothic army under Alaric that roamed unchecked in northern Italy. So, when Constantine's envoys arrived to parley, the fearful Honorius recognised Constantine as co-emperor, and the two were joint consuls for the year 409.[19] March on Italy[edit] That year was Constantine's high-water mark. While he had been fighting Honorius' armies, some of the Vandal tribes had overrun Constantine's Rhine defenses and spent two years and eight months burning and plundering their way through Gaul. The tribes reached the Pyrenees, where they broke through Constantine's garrisons and entered Hispania.[8] Constantine prepared to send his son Constans back to deal with this crisis when word came that his general Gerontius had rebelled, raising his relative, Maximus of Hispania, as co-emperor.[10] Despite Constantine's best efforts, the feared attack from Hispania came the following year, when Gerontius advanced with the support of his barbarian allies.[20] At about the same time Saxon pirates raided Britain, which Constantine had left defenceless.[21][citation needed] Distressed that Constantine had failed to defend them, the Roman inhabitants of Britain and Armorica (Brittany) rebelled and expelled his officials.[17][22] Constantine's response to this tightening circle of enemies was a final desperate gamble. Encouraged by the entreaties of officials of the western court, he marched on Italy with the troops left to him.[citation needed] They wanted to replace Honorius with a more capable ruler.[8] Constantine, though, had insufficient forces and retreated into Gaul in the late spring of 410.[8] Constantine's position became untenable; Gerontius defeated his forces at Vienne in 411; there his son Constans was captured and executed.[10] Constantine's praetorian prefect Decimus Rusticus, who had replaced Apollinaris a year earlier, abandoned Constantine to be caught up in the new rebellion of Jovinus in the Rhineland. Gerontius trapped Constantine inside Arles and besieged him.[8] Surrender and execution[edit] Constantine III portrayed on a siliqua. The reverse celebrates the victories of the Augusti. At the same time, Honorius found a new general, the future Constantius III. He arrived at Arles and put Gerontius to flight. Gerontius committed suicide and many of his troops deserted to Constantius, who took over the siege.[citation needed] Constantine held out, hoping for the return of Edobichus, who was raising troops in northern Gaul amongst the Franks.[21] But on his arrival Edobichus was defeated in an ambush.[23] Constantine, his hopes fading after his troops guarding the Rhine abandoned him to support Jovinus, surrendered to Constantius. Despite the promise of safe passage, and Constantine's assumption of clerical office, Constantius imprisoned the former soldier and had him beheaded on his way to Ravenna[citation needed] in either August or September 411.[2] His head was mounted on a pole and presented to Emperor Honorius on 18 September. It was later displayed outside Carthage.[24] Athaulf the Visigoth later suppressed the revolt of Jovinus.[citation needed] Roman rule never returned to Britain after the death of Constantine III. As the historian Procopius later explained, "from that time onwards it remained under [the rule] of tyrants."[25] Legend[edit] Constantine III is also known as Constantine II of Britain. He is often confused with the Constantine found in Geoffrey of Monmouth's highly popular and imaginative Historia Regum Britanniae, who comes to power following Gracianus Municeps' reign. In Geoffrey's account, the Britons ask Aldroenus [fr], the ruler of Armorica, to be their ruler after the Roman withdrawal, seeking a king who can defend them against the barbarians. Aldroenus refuses, believing the country to have diminished, but sends his brother Constantine to rule instead. Constantine becomes king and has three sons, Constans, Aurelius and Uther, but is stabbed to death by a Pict.[26] Constantine III is of no relation to the Constantine described in Geoffrey's account and he has no link to the legend of King Arthur.[citation needed] Geoffrey's Constantine is the brother of Aldroenus, both of whom were the descendants of Conan Meriadoc. It is Geoffrey's Constantine who, through his son Uther Pendragon, becomes the grandfather of the legendary King Arthur. See also[edit] End of Roman rule in Britain References[edit] ^ Jones, pg. 638 ^ a b c Jones, pg. 316 ^ Doyle, Chris (2014). The Endgame of Treason: Suppressing Rebellion and Usurpation in the Late Roman Empire AD 397‑411. National University of Ireland Galway. Unpublished doctoral thesis. pp. 163–192. ^ Zosimus, 6:1:2 ^ Zosimus, 7:40:5 ^ Orosius, 7:40:4 ^ Snyder 1998:19, Age of Tyrants. ^ a b c d e f Elton, Constantine III (407–411 A.D.) ^ Bury, pg. 138 ^ a b c Birley, pg. 460 ^ Zosimus, 6:2:3 ^ Zosimus, 6:2:4 ^ Birley, pgs. 458–459 ^ a b Bury, pg. 140 ^ Jones, pg. 113 ^ Zosimus, 6:2:5 ^ a b Birley, pg. 459 ^ a b Gibbon, Ch. 30 ^ a b Bury, pg. 141 ^ Bury, pg.142 ^ a b Bury, pg. 143 ^ Higham 1992, pp. 71–72. ^ Bury, pg. 144 ^ Heather, pg. 237 ^ Birley, pg. 160 ^ Monmouth, 6:5 Sources[edit] Primary sources[edit] Zosimus, Historia Nova, Books 5 & 6 Historia Nova Orosius, Historiae adversum Paganos, 7.40 Geoffrey of Monmouth' Historia Regum Britanniae Secondary sources[edit] Bartrum, Peter A Welsh Classical Dictionary Cardiff: National Library of Wales, 1993, ISBN 978-0-907158-73-8 Birley, Anthony (2005), The Roman Government in Britain, Oxford: Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-925237-4 Bury, J. B., A History of the Later Roman Empire from Arcadius to Irene, Vol. I (1889) London; New York: Macmillan OCLC 22138662 Elton, Hugh, Constantine III (407–411 A.D.), D.I.R. Ford, David Nash Early British Kingdoms: Constantine Corneu Gibbon, Edward, Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1888) Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott OCLC 692266633 Heather, Peter(2005) The Fall of the Roman Empire, Basingstoke and Oxford: Pan Macmillan ISBN 978-0-333-98914-2 Higham, Nicholas (1992), Rome, Britain and the Anglo-Saxons, London: B. A. Seaby, ISBN 978-1-85264-022-4 Jones, Arnold Hugh Martin, John Robert Martindale, John Morris, The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, volume 2, Cambridge University Press, 1992, ISBN 978-0-521-20159-9 Snyder, Christopher A. (1998), An Age of Tyrants: Britain and the Britons A.D. 400–600, University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, ISBN 978-0-271-01780-8 Stevens, C.E. "Marcus, Gratian, Constantine", Athenaeum, 35 (1957), pp. 316–47 Thompson, E.A. "Britain, A.D. 406–410", Britannia, 8 (1977), pp. 303–318. External links[edit] Wikimedia Commons has media related to Constantine III (usurper). Political offices Preceded by Anicius Auchenius Bassus Flavius Philippus Consul of the Roman Empire 409 with Honorius and Theodosius II Succeeded by Varanes Tertullus Legendary titles VacantTurmoil Title last held by Gracianus Municeps King of Britain 407–411 Succeeded by Constans v t e Roman and Byzantine emperors and ruling empresses Principate 27 BC – AD 235 Augustus Tiberius Caligula Claudius Nero Galba Otho Vitellius Vespasian Titus Domitian Nerva Trajan Hadrian Antoninus Pius Marcus Aurelius Lucius Verus Commodus Pertinax Didius Julianus (Pescennius Niger) (Clodius Albinus) Septimius Severus Caracalla Geta Macrinus Diadumenian Elagabalus Severus Alexander Crisis 235–285 Maximinus Thrax Gordian I Gordian II Pupienus Balbinus Gordian III Philip the Arab Philip II Decius Herennius Etruscus Hostilian Trebonianus Gallus Volusianus Aemilianus Valerian Gallienus Saloninus Claudius Gothicus Quintillus Aurelian Ulpia Severina Tacitus Florian Probus Carus Carinus Numerian Gallic emperors Postumus (Laelianus) Marius Victorinus (Domitianus II) Tetricus I with Tetricus II as caesar Palmyrene emperors Vaballathus Zenobia Septimius Antiochus Dominate 284–395 Diocletian Maximian Galerius Constantius I Severus Constantine the Great Maxentius Licinius Maximinus Daza (Valerius Valens) (Martinian) Constantine II Constantius II Constans I Magnentius Vetranio Julian Jovian Valentinian I (west) Valens (east) Gratian (west) Valentinian II (west) Theodosius I Magnus Maximus Victor (Eugenius) Western Empire 395–480 Honorius Constantine III with son Constans II Constantius III Joannes Valentinian III Petronius Maximus Avitus Majorian Libius Severus Anthemius Olybrius Glycerius Julius Nepos Romulus Augustulus Eastern/ Byzantine Empire 395–1204 Arcadius Theodosius II Marcian Leo I Leo II Zeno Basiliscus Marcus Anastasius I Dicorus Justin I Justinian I Justin II Tiberius II Constantine Maurice with son Theodosius as co-emperor Phocas Heraclius Constantine III Heraklonas Constans II Constantine IV with brothers Heraclius and Tiberius and then Justinian II as co-emperors Justinian II (first reign) Leontios Tiberius III Justinian II (second reign) with son Tiberius as co-emperor Philippikos Anastasios II Theodosius III Leo III the Isaurian Constantine V Artabasdos Leo IV the Khazar Constantine VI Irene Nikephoros I Staurakios Michael I Rangabe with son Theophylact as co-emperor Leo V the Armenian with Symbatios-Constantine as junior emperor Michael II the Amorian Theophilos Michael III Basil I the Macedonian Leo VI the Wise Alexander Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos Romanos I Lekapenos with sons Christopher, Stephen and Constantine as junior co-emperors Romanos II Nikephoros II Phokas John I Tzimiskes Basil II Constantine VIII Zoë (first reign) and Romanos III Argyros Zoë (first reign) and Michael IV the Paphlagonian Michael V Kalaphates Zoë (second reign) with Theodora Zoë (second reign) and Constantine IX Monomachos Constantine IX Monomachos (sole emperor) Theodora Michael VI Bringas Isaac I Komnenos Constantine X Doukas Romanos IV Diogenes Michael VII Doukas with brothers Andronikos and Konstantios and son Constantine Nikephoros III Botaneiates Alexios I Komnenos John II Komnenos with Alexios Komnenos as co-emperor Manuel I Komnenos Alexios II Komnenos Andronikos I Komnenos with John Komnenos as co-emperor Isaac II Angelos Alexios III Angelos Alexios IV Angelos Nicholas Kanabos (chosen by the Senate) Alexios V Doukas Empire of Nicaea 1204–1261 Constantine Laskaris Theodore I Laskaris John III Doukas Vatatzes Theodore II Laskaris John IV Laskaris Byzantine Empire 1261–1453 Michael VIII Palaiologos Andronikos II Palaiologos with Michael IX Palaiologos as co-emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos John V Palaiologos John VI Kantakouzenos with John V Palaiologos and Matthew Kantakouzenos as co-emperors John V Palaiologos Andronikos IV Palaiologos John VII Palaiologos Andronikos V Palaiologos Manuel II Palaiologos John VIII Palaiologos Constantine XI Palaiologos Italics indicates a junior co-emperor, while underlining indicates a usurper. v t e Geoffrey of Monmouth Works Prophetiae Merlini (c. 1135) Historia Regum Britanniae (c. 1136) Vita Merlini (c. 1150) Translations Roman de Brut Layamon's Brut Brut y Brenhinedd Characters Aeneas Saint Alban Albanactus Alhfrith of Deira Allectus Ambrosius Aurelianus Amphibalus Andragius Archgallo Archmail King Arthur Arvirargus Ascanius Augustine of Canterbury Aurelius Conanus Bedivere Beldgabred Beli Mawr Belinus Bladud Bledric ap Custennin Bledudo Brennius Brutus Greenshield Brutus of Troy Budic II of Brittany Cadfan ap Iago Cadoc Cador Cadwaladr Cadwallon ap Cadfan Camber (legendary king) Cap of Britain Capetus Silvius Capoir Caracalla Caradocus Carausius Cassivellaunus Catellus Catigern Cherin Claudius Cledaucus Clotenus Coel Hen Coilus Conan Meriadoc Constans II (usurper) Constantine the Great Constantine III (Western Roman Emperor) Constantine (Briton) Constantius Chlorus Cordelia of Britain Corineus Cunedagius Cunobeline Danius Saint David Digueillus Diocletian Dionotus Dunvallo Molmutius Ebraucus Edadus Edern ap Nudd Edwin of Northumbria Eldol Eldol, Consul of Gloucester Elidurus Eliud Enniaunus Estrildis Eudaf Hen Ferrex Fulgenius Gawain Gerennus Goffar the Pict Gogmagog (folklore) Goneril Gorboduc Gorbonianus Gorlois Gracianus Municeps Guiderius Guinevere Guithelin Gurgintius Gurguit Barbtruc Gurgustius Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio Gwenddydd Queen Gwendolen Helena (empress) Helenus Hengist and Horsa Hoel Humber the Hun Iago ap Beli Idvallo Igraine Ingenius of Britain Jago of Britain Julius and Aaron Julius Asclepiodotus Julius Caesar Sir Kay Keredic Kimarcus Kinarius Latinus Lavinia Leil Leir of Britain Locrinus King Lot Lucius of Britain Lucius Tiberius Lud son of Heli Maddan Maelgwn Gwynedd Magnus Maximus Mandubracius Queen Marcia Marganus Marganus II Marius of Britain Mempricius Merianus Merlin Millus Mordred Morgause Morvidus Myrddin Wyllt Nennius of Britain Octa of Kent Oenus Oswald of Northumbria Oswiu of Northumbria Owain mab Urien Penda of Mercia Peredur Peredurus Pir of the Britons Porrex I Porrex II Publius Septimius Geta Quintus Laberius Durus Redechius Redon of Britain Regan (King Lear) Rhydderch Hael Rience Rivallo Rud Hud Hudibras Runo Sawyl Penuchel Septimius Severus Silvius (mythology) Sisillius I Sisillius II Sisillius III Son of Gorbonianus Taliesin Tasciovanus Trahern Turnus Urianus Uther Pendragon Venissa Vespasian Vortigern Vortimer Vortiporius Wulfhere of Mercia Ywain Æthelberht of Kent Æthelfrith of Northumbria Œthelwald of Deira Topics Avalon Battle of Arfderydd Battle of Badon Battle of Camlann Battle of Guoloph Brut y Tywysogion Excalibur Lailoken List of legendary kings of Britain List of legendary rulers of Cornwall Logres Matter of Britain Molmutine Laws Nennius Pridwen Riothamus River Malvam Siege of Exeter (c. 630) Locations associated with Arthurian legend Treachery of the Long Knives Trinovantum Trojan genealogy of Nennius Walter of Oxford Wikiquote Wikisource texts Authority control General VIAF 1 WorldCat (via VIAF) National libraries Poland Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Constantine_III_(Western_Roman_emperor)&oldid=1026086772" Categories: 4th-century births 411 deaths 5th-century Roman usurpers 5th-century murdered monarchs Imperial Roman consuls Ancient Roman generals Ancient Romans in Britain Arthurian characters British traditional history Characters in works by Geoffrey of Monmouth Claudii Flavii People executed by the Roman Empire Executed Roman emperors People executed by decapitation Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata Use dmy dates from July 2018 Good articles EngvarB from May 2018 All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from July 2020 Articles with unsourced statements from August 2018 Articles with unsourced statements from January 2021 Commons link 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