Constantius Chlorus

250 – 306 · Generation XV · Caesar, then Augustus (r. AD 293–306) · Constantinian

Constantius (AD 250 – AD 306). Caesar, then Augustus (r. AD 293–306). Married Helena around AD 270; they were set apart in AD 289. Married Flavia Maximiana around AD 289. Diocletian’s western Caesar; set aside Helena for a dynastic match with Theodora, Maximian’s stepdaughter, and died at York. A soldier of humble origins who rose through the ranks, he was among the four founding emperors of Diocletian’s Tetrarchy. Assigned Gaul, he broke the usurper Carausius and then, crossing to Britain, Carausius’s successor Allectus, and he fought repeatedly on the Rhine against the Alamanni and Franks. When the great persecution was proclaimed in 303 he pulled down churches as the edicts required but otherwise left the Christians of his provinces alone. Senior emperor from May 305, he sailed for Britain a final time to chastise the Picts in the island’s far north, beyond the Antonine Wall. At his death in York the army lost no time in hailing his son Constantine — a succession he may himself have prepared — and with that the Tetrarchy began to come apart. The nickname “Chlorus”, “the Pale”, was hung on him by Byzantine historians long after; his descendants ruled until Julian’s death in 363.

One of 10 people of Constantinian (246–363) in this archive. Constantine’s house — the first Christian emperors, and a new capital in the east.

Partners

Married Helena Augusta (246 – 330) in 270; they separated in 289 — one child together
Married Flavia Maximiana Theodora (272 – 337) in 289 — one child together

Children

Constantine the Great (272 – 337)
Julius Constantius (289 – 337)

Life

250 — Born
270 — Married Helena
289 — Parted from Helena
289 — Married Flavia Maximiana
306 — Died