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Constantius I Chlorus
Bust of Constantius Chlorus. Altes Museum, Berlin (Germany). Photo Jona Lendering.
Constantius Chlorus (Altes Museum, Berlin)
 Constantius I Chlorus: emperor of the Roman world (305-306).

Names:

  • 31 March 250: Julius Constantius 
  • 1 March 293: Flavius Valerius Constantius Caesar Herculius 
  • 1 May 305: Imperator Caesar Gaius Flavius Valerius Constantius 
  • 25 July 306: natural death
Nickname: Chlorus ('the pale one')
co-emperor of Galerius; ruled in the west

Successor of: Maximianus

Relatives:

  • father: Flavius Dalmatius
  • mother: Julia Constantia
  • first wife: Helen
  • second wife: Theodora (stepdaughter of Maximianus)
    • children: Flavius Dalmatius, Julius Constantius, Hannibalianus, Julia Constantia, Anastasia, Eutropia
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Coin commemorating the liberation of London in 296, Photo Marco Prins.
Medallion, commemorating the liberation of London in 296

Main deeds:

  • 250 Born in Illyricum
  • 271/272 Protector in Syria during Aurelian's campaign against Zenobia
  • 272 Birth of Constantine
  • Military tribune under Probus
  • c.284 Praeses of the Dalmatians
  • 288 Praetorian prefect
  • 289 Marriage to Theodora
  • 292 Constantius distinguishes himself in a war against the Alamans
  • 293 Founding of the First Tetrarchy: the emperors Diocletian and Maximianus appoint Galerius and Constantius I Chlorus as caesares; all four men accept the title Germanicus Maximus; Constantius captures Gesoriacum (Boulogne), which was held by the British usurper Carausius. In Britain, Carausius is replaced by Allectus.
  • 294 Consul (with Galerius); Diocletian defeats the Sarmatians; Constantius accepts the title Sarmaticus Maximus
  • 295 Galerius fight against the Persians (?); Constantius accepts the title Persicus Maximus
  • 296 Consul II (with Diocletian VI); conquers Britain; Allectus defeated and killed; accepts the title Britannicus Maximus and adds Carpicus Maximus to commemorate Diocletian's successes against the Carpi
  • 298 Galerius defeats the Sasanian king Narseh and Constantius accepts the titles Medicus Maximus, Adiabenicus Maximus, and Persicus Maximus II; Maximianus in Carthage
  • 300 Consul III (with Galerius III); beginning of a protracted war in the Rhineland; accepts, after Galerius' successes along the Danube, the title Sarmaticus Maximus II 
  • 301 Monetary reform; edict on Maximum Prizes; Constantius fights against the Germanic tribes, Galerius against the Carpi; both accept the titles Germanicus Maximus II and Carpicus Maximus II
  • 302 Consul IV (with Galerius IV); accepts the titles Germanicus Maximus III, Sarmaticus Maximus III and Carpicus Maximus III
  • 303 accepts the titles Germanicus Maximus IV and Carpicus Maximus IV; does not introduce anti-Christian measures
  • 304 End of the war in the Rhineland and along the Danube; the two caesares accept the titles Germanicus Maximus V and Carpicus Maximus V
  • 305 Consul V (with Galerius V); Diocletian and Maximianus resign; Second Tetrarchy: they are succeeded by Galerius and Constantius I Chlorus, who appoint as caesares Maximinus Daia and Severus II; Constantius' second expedition to Britain, where he and his son Constantine fight against the Picts; accepts the title Britannicus Maximus II
  • 306 Consul VI (with Galerius VI); Dies in Eburacum (York); the soldiers of the Sixth legion Victrix proclaim his son Constantine emperor.
New legions: I Flavia Gallicana Constantia; I Flavia Martis; XII Victrix

Succeeded by: Severus II; Constantine I the Great
This brief article has been written to offer background information
to the real articles on Livius.Org. One day, this webpage will be
improved. A list of completed articles can be found here.
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