A Fresh Look at a Neglected Roman Emperor

In A.D. 337, Constantine the Great left the Roman Empire to his sons, Constantine II, Constans, and Constantius II. The first two died at the hands of usurpers in 340 and 350 respectively, while the third, went on to rule until 361, among one of the longest and most successful reigns in Roman History. Yet, as Dr. Baker-Brian (Cardiff University) points out, Constantius has been rather neglected by historians, even ancient ones, who have tended to favor his cousin, rival, and successor Julian “The Apostate” (361-363) or the usurper Magnus Magnentius, murderer of Constans.

Tapping a very impressive volume of sources, Baker-Brian has produced an excellent look at Constantius and his long reign. He makes a solid case that the man was a capable ruler, who had to cope with the problems of an empire past its prime, beset of numerous problems, of which the “Barbarians” on its borders were perhaps less threatening than the periodic usurpers and the doctrinal controversies roiling the unity of the recently dominant Christian church.

Baker-Brian begins with an introduction reviewing the final years of Constantine the Great’s reign, and his slaughter of much of his family.  He opens the main text with a chapter on the physical documentation of Constantius and his times, monuments, statues, and such, and most notably the coinage, followed by a chapter on the available written evidence, literature, letters, legal papers and the like. The following five chapters deal with events from the death of Constantine and accession of the brothers through the death of Constantius and the accession of his nephew Julian “The Apostate” (by no means the admirable guy found in fiction) whose writings and those of Constantius’ religious enemies helped set the received image of a rather inept and dull ruler.

Throughout the book, Baker-Brian offers an ongoing analysis of the evidence, quite often citing and commenting on the work of other scholars, usually favorably, a good practice. Altogether The Reign of Constantius II is an excellent, very scholarly life and times of a rather neglected emperor.

Note: The Reign of Constantius II is also available in hard cover & e-editions.

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