The Sons of Constantine, AD 337-361: In the Shadows of Constantine and Julian (New Approaches to Byzantine History and Culture)

This edited collection focuses on the Roman empire during the period from AD 337 to 361. During this period the empire was ruled by three brothers: Constantine II (337-340), Constans I (337-350) and Constantius II (337-361). These emperors tend to be cast into shadow by their famous father Constantine, the first Christian Roman emperor (306-337), and their famous cousin Julian, the last pagan Roman emperor (361-363). The traditional concentration on the historically renowned figures of Constantine and Julian is understandable but comes at a significant price: the neglect of the period between the death of Constantine and the reign of Julian and of the rulers who governed the empire in this period. The reigns of the sons of Constantine, especially that of the longest-lived Constantius II, mark a moment of great historical significance. As the heirs of Constantine they became the guardians of his legacy, and they oversaw the nature of the world in which Julian was to grow up. The thirteen contributors to this volume assess their influence on imperial, administrative, cultural, and religious facets of the empire in the fourth century. Acknowledgements 6 Contents 7 Notes on Contributors 10 Abbreviations 13 List of Figures 17 Chapter 1: Introduction: In the Shadows of Constantine and Julian—The Sons of Constantine, AD 337–361 20 References 34 Part I: Creating a Dynasty 39 Chapter 2: From the Tetrarchy to the Constantinian Dynasty: A Narrative Introduction 40 References 70 Chapter 3: Constantine II and His Brothers: The Civil War of AD 340 73 Introduction 73 The Political Context 74 The Sources for the Civil War of 340 89 Dates and Distances 98 Reconstruction and Conclusion 105 References 107 Part II: Representations of Authority 111 Chapter 4: Innovation and Orthodoxy in the Portraiture of Constantine and His Sons 112 References 143 Chapter 5: The Ideology of Imperial Unity in Themistius (Or. 1) and Libanius (Or. 59) 148 Introduction 148 Themistius and Constantius II as the Sole Ruler 150 Libanius and Brotherly Unity 158 Conclusion 165 References 167 Chapter 6: The Memory of Mursa: Usurpation, Civil War, and Contested Legitimacy Under the Sons of Constantine 172 Introduction 172 Claims to Legitimacy in an Unfolding Crisis 175 Rival Emperors 175 Affirming Legitimacy 178 Ideology and Italy: Senators Between Rival Emperors 180 The Usurper’s Men 182 Constantinian Loyalists 185 Reaffirming Contested Legitimacy: Celebrating the Battle of Mursa 186 Forgetting Mursa 192 Conclusions 195 References 195 Chapter 7: Eusebia and Eusebius: The Roles and Significance of Constantinian Imperial Women and Court Eunuchs 199 Introduction 199 Eunuchs 203 Imperial Women: Wives 206 Imperial Women: Sisters, Aunts, Mothers and Grandmothers 212 Imperial Women: Coinage, Titles and Honours 221 Conclusions 227 References 229 Part III: Administration and Governance 235 Chapter 8: The Dynamics of Imperial Government: Collegiality and Regionalism 236 Introduction 236 Emperors, Prefects, and Regions 237 The Unity of Government 248 Courts and Careers 256 Conclusion 263 References 265 Chapter 9: Governing the Empire: The Effects of the Diocletianic and Constantinian Provincial Reforms Under the Sons of Constantine 268 Introduction 268 Sources for Provincial Administration 269 The Effect of the Reforms on the Provinces Under Diocletian and Constantine 271 Division of the Empire at the End of the Reign of Constantine the Great 273 Law and the Administration of the Empire 278 The Effects of the Reforms on the Careers of Governors and Vicarii 282 Conclusion 286 References 286 Chapter 10: Imperial Cities Under the Sons of Constantine 288 Introduction 288 Principal Imperial Residences as Caesars and Augusti 291 Imperial Visits and Celebrations 298 Patronage: Civic Buildings 302 Patronage: Ecclesiastical Buildings 304 Longer-Term Imperial Presence: Imperial Mausolea 308 An Increased Focus on Rome and Constantinople Through the 350s? 313 Conclusion 314 References 316 Chapter 11: A Father’s Legacy: Foreign Affairs Under the Sons of Constantine 321 Persia 323 The Balkans 329 Gaul and the West 332 Structural Conclusions 336 References 337 Chapter 12: Economy and Society in the Age of the Sons of Constantine 340 References 354 Part IV: Religion and Culture 356 Chapter 13: “I Have Taken Pains to Get Copies of Them” (Athanasius, De Synodis 55): Epistolary Relations Between the Sons of Constantine and the Christian Church 357 Introduction 357 Episcopal Promotion of Letters from Emperors 364 The Judgement of Constantius II 377 Conclusion 390 References 394 Chapter 14: Pagans and Paganism in the Age of the Sons of Constantine 398 Introduction: “Paganism” in the Fourth Century 398 Imperial Policy 401 Anti-Pagan Violence, Physical and Verbal 406 Pagan Practices 409 Pagan Perceptions 414 Paganism Under Constantine’s Sons: More Than a Christian Construct 418 References 420 References 423 Index 465 Front Matter ....Pages i-xxi Introduction: In the Shadows of Constantine and Julian—The Sons of Constantine, AD 337–361 (Nicholas Baker-Brian, Shaun Tougher)....Pages 1-19 Front Matter ....Pages 21-21 From the Tetrarchy to the Constantinian Dynasty: A Narrative Introduction (John Vanderspoel)....Pages 23-55 Constantine II and His Brothers: The Civil War of AD 340 (William Lewis)....Pages 57-94 Front Matter ....Pages 95-95 Innovation and Orthodoxy in the Portraiture of Constantine and His Sons (Eric R. Varner)....Pages 97-132 The Ideology of Imperial Unity in Themistius (Or. 1) and Libanius (Or. 59) (Christine Greenlee)....Pages 133-156 The Memory of Mursa: Usurpation, Civil War, and Contested Legitimacy Under the Sons of Constantine (Mark Humphries)....Pages 157-183 Eusebia and Eusebius: The Roles and Significance of Constantinian Imperial Women and Court Eunuchs (Shaun Tougher)....Pages 185-220 Front Matter ....Pages 221-221 The Dynamics of Imperial Government: Collegiality and Regionalism (Caillan Davenport)....Pages 223-254 Governing the Empire: The Effects of the Diocletianic and Constantinian Provincial Reforms Under the Sons of Constantine (Daniëlle Slootjes)....Pages 255-274 Imperial Cities Under the Sons of Constantine (Meaghan McEvoy)....Pages 275-307 A Father’s Legacy: Foreign Affairs Under the Sons of Constantine (Michael Kulikowski)....Pages 309-327 Economy and Society in the Age of the Sons of Constantine (Peter Sarris)....Pages 329-344 Front Matter ....Pages 345-345 “I Have Taken Pains to Get Copies of Them” (Athanasius, De Synodis 55): Epistolary Relations Between the Sons of Constantine and the Christian Church (Nicholas Baker-Brian)....Pages 347-387 Pagans and Paganism in the Age of the Sons of Constantine (Jan R. Stenger)....Pages 389-413 Back Matter ....Pages 415-466