Constantinian dynasty

Roman imperial dynasties
Medallion of Constantine I from the , showing the augustus (C) crowned by the manus Dei, with his eldest son Constantine II crowned by Victory (R) accompanied by the other caesares, Constans and Constantius II (L)
Constantinian dynasty
Chronology
Constantius I 305–306 Constantine I 306–337 Constantine II 337–340 Constans 337–350 Constantius II 337–361 Julian 361–363
Succession
Preceded by Tetrarchy Followed by Jovian and Valentinianic dynasty
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Constantine I with his two eldest sons by Fausta, Constantine II and Constantius II

Silver coin of Constans, showing Constans, Constantine II and Constantius II

The Constantinian dynasty is an informal name for the ruling family of the Roman Empire from Constantius Chlorus (died 306) to the death of Julian in 363. It is named after its most famous member, Constantine the Great who became the sole ruler of the empire in 324. The dynasty is also called Neo-Flavian because every Constantinian emperor bore the name Flavius, similarly to the rulers of the first Flavian dynasty in the 1st century.

Stemmata[]

In italics the Augusti and the Augustae.

• Constantius Chlorus
  1. From relationship between Constantius Chlorus and Helena
     • Constantine I
       1. From marriage between Constantine I and Minervina
          • Crispus
       2. From marriage between Constantine I and Fausta
          • Constantina, wife of Hannibalianus and Constantius Gallus
          • Constantine II
          • Constantius II
            1. No offspring from marriage between Constantius II and his first wife, daughter of Julius Constantius
            2. No offspring from marriage between Constantius II and Eusebia
            3. From marriage between Constantius II and Faustina
               • Flavia Maxima Faustina Constantia, wife of Gratian
          • Constans I
          • Helena, wife of Julian
  2. From marriage between Constantius Chlorus and Theodora
     • Flavius Dalmatius
       1. From marriage between Flavius Dalmatius and unknown wife
          • Flavius Dalmatius
          • Hannibalianus, husband of Constantina
     • Julius Constantius
       1. From marriage between Julius Constantius and Galla
          • son, died in the purges of 337^[1]
          • daughter, first wife of Constantius II
          • Constantius Gallus
            1. No offspring from marriage between Gallus and Constantina
       2. From marriage between Julius Constantius and Basilina
          • Julian
            1. No offspring from marriage between Julian and Helena, daughter of Constantine I
     • Hannibalianus (must have died before the imperial purges that occurred in 337 because he is not listed among its victims);
     • Anastasia;
     • Flavia Julia Constantia, wife of Licinius
       1. • Valerius Licinianus Licinius
     • Eutropia
       1. • Nepotianus

Family tree[]

Relationship to other tetrarchs[]

Other rulers of the tetrarchy were related to the Constantinian dynasty:

• Maximian: adoptive father and stepfather-in-law of Constantius Chlorus, father-in-law of Constantine, stepgrandfather-in-law of Licinius
• Maxentius: adoptive brother and half-brother-in-law of Constantius Chlorus, brother-in-law of Constantine
• Licinius: son-in-law of Constantius Chlorus, half-brother-in-law of Constantine

Notes[]

References[]

• R. Scott Moore, "The Stemmata of the Neo-Flavian Emperors", DIR (1998)
• R. Scott Moore, "The Stemmata of the Emperors of the Tetrarchy", DIR (1998)