Constans - Roman Emperor: 337-350 A.D. -
Bronze AE4 18mm Struck at the mint of Thessalonica 348-350 A.D.
Reference: RIC 101 (VIII, Thessalonica), LRBC 861
CONSTANSPFAVG - Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right.
VICTORIAEDDAVGGQNN Exe: •/SMTSΓ - Two Victories standing, facing each other,
each holding a wreath and palm. You are bidding on the exact item pictured,
provided with a Certificate of Authenticity and Lifetime Guarantee of
Authenticity.
In
Roman mythology, Victoria was the personification/Goddess of victory.
She is the Roman version of the
Greek goddess
Nike, and was associated with
Bellona. She was adapted from the
Sabine
agricultural goddess
Vacuna and had
a
temple on the
Palatine Hill. Her name (in Latin) means victory. Unlike the Greek Nike, Victoria (Latin
for "victory") was a major part of Roman society. Multiple temples were erected
in her honour. When her statue was removed in 382 AD by emperor
Gratianus there was much anger in Rome. She was normally worshipped by
triumphant generals returning from war.
Also unlike the Greek Nike,who was known for success in athletic games such
as chariot races, Victoria was a symbol of victory over death and determined who
would be successful during war. Appearing on Roman coins, jewelry, architecture, and other arts, Victoria is
often seen with or in a
chariot. An
example of this is her place upon the
Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany.
Flavius
Julius Constans (320-350) was a
Roman Emperor who ruled from 337 until his death. Constans was the
third and youngest son of
Constantine the Great and
Fausta,
Constantine's second wife.
On 25 December 333 Constantine elevated Constans to Caesar.
In 337 he succeeded his father, jointly with his older
brothers
Constantine II and
Constantius II, receiving
Italy,
Pannonia
and Africa as
his portion. Constantine II, who ruled over Gaul, Spain and Britain, attempted
to take advantage of his youth and inexperience by invading Italy in 340, but
Constans defeated Constantine at
Aquileia,
where the older brother died. The invasion was the effect of brotherly tensions
between the two emperors. Constantine II was, at first, Constans's guardian. As
Constans grew older, Constantine II never relinquished that position.
In 341-2, Constans led a successful campaign against the
Franks and in
the early months of 343 visited
Britain. The source for this visit,
Julius Firmicus Maternus, does not give a reason for this but the quick
movement and the danger involved in crossing the
channel in the dangerous winter months, suggests it was in response to a
military emergency of some kind, possibly to repel the
Picts and
Scots.
Regarding religion, Constans was tolerant of Judaism but
promulgated an edict banning pagan sacrifices in 341. He suppressed
Donatism in Africa and supported
Nicene orthodoxy against
Arianism,
which was championed by his brother Constantius the latter. Constans called the
Council of Sardica, which unsuccessfully tried to settle the conflict.
In 350, the general
Magnentius
declared himself emperor with the support of the troops on the
Rhine frontier,
and later the entire Western portion of the Roman Empire. Constans lacked any
support beyond his immediate household, and was forced to flee for his life.
Magnentius' supporters cornered him in a fortification in Helena, southwestern
Gaul, where he was
killed by Magnentius's assassins.
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