Crispus Caesar 317-326 AD." . Thessalonica Mint. Rare Reverse

Description: Flavius Julius Crispus(/krsps/;c.300 326) was the eldest son of theRoman emperorConstantine I, as well as his junior colleague (caesar) from March 317 until his execution by his father in 326. The grandson of theaugustusConstantius I, Crispus was the elder half-brother of the futureaugustusConstantine IIand became co-caesarwith him and with his cousinLicinius IIatSerdica, part of the settlement ending theCibalensean Warbetween Constantine and his father's rivalLicinius I. Crispus ruled fromAugusta Treverorum(Trier) inRoman Gaulbetween 318 and 323 and defeated the navy of Licinius I at theBattle of the Hellespontin 324, which with the landBattle of Chrysopoliswon by Constantine forced the resignation ofLiciniusand his son, leaving Constantine the soleaugustusand theConstantinian dynastyin control of the entire empire. It is unclear what was legal status of the relationship Crispus's motherMinervinahad with Constantine; Crispus may have been anillegitimateson.Crispus'stutorinrhetoricwas theLate Latinhistorian ofEarly Christianity,Lactantius. Crispus may be the young prince depicted on the Gemma Constantiniana, a greatcameodepicting Constantine and his wifeFausta, though the depiction may instead be of Fausta's own son, the futureaugustusConstantius II. While at Augusta Treverorum, Crispus'spraetorian prefectfor theprefecture of Gaulwas the greatJunius Annius Bassus. After his elevation to imperial rank, at which point he was also entitledprinceps iuventutis("Prince of Youth"), the Latin rhetoricianNazariuscomposed apanegyricpreserved in thePanegyrici Latini, which honoured Crispus's military victories over theFranksinc.319. Crispus was three timesRoman consul, for the years 318, 321, and 324. Within two years of the defeat and surrender of Licinius, Constantine had not only put his brother-in-law and former co-augustusto death, but also executed his nephew Licinius II, the son of his sisterFlavia Julia Constantia. According to the Latin histories ofAmmianus MarcellinusandAurelius Victor, after a trial whose real circumstances are mysterious, Constantine executed Crispus at Pola (Pula) in 326. Fausta, whose son Constantius II becamecaesarin November 324, was also put to death, and theLate GreekhistorianZosimusand theByzantine GreekwriterJoannes Zonaraswrote that Constantine had accused Crispus ofincestwith his stepmother. After his death, Crispus was subjected todamnatio memoriae. Crispus's year and place of birth are uncertain. He is considered likely to have been born between 299 and 305, possibly as early as 295, somewhere in the easternRoman Empire. The earliest date is most likely, since he was being tutored in 309310 byLactantius.[1]His motherMinervinawas either aconcubineor a first wife to Constantine. Nothing else is known about Minervina. His father served as a hostage in the court ofDiocletianinNicomedia, thus securing the loyalty of Constantine's father,Constantius Chlorus, who wascaesartoMaximianin the west at this time. In 307, Constantine allied to the Italianaugusti, and this alliance was sealed with the marriage of Constantine to Maximian's daughterFausta. This marriage has caused modern historians to question his relationship toMinervinaand Crispus. If Minervina were his legitimate wife, Constantine would have needed to secure adivorcebefore marrying Fausta, which would have required an official written order signed by Constantine himself, but no such order is mentioned by contemporary sources. This silence in the sources has led many historians to conclude that the relationship between Constantine and Minervina was informal and to assume her to have been an unofficial lover. However, Minervina might have already been dead by 307. A widowed Constantine would need no divorce. Neither the true nature of the relationship between Constantine and Minervina nor the reason Crispus came under the protection of his father will probably ever be known. The offspring of an illegitimate affair could have caused dynastic problems and would likely be dismissed, but Crispus was raised by his father inGaul. This can be seen as evidence of a loving and public relationship between Constantine and Minervina which gave him a reason to protect her son. The story of Minervina is quite similar to that of Constantine's motherHelena. Constantine's father later had to divorce her for political reasonsspecifically, to marryFlavia Maximiana Theodora, the daughter ofMaximian. Constantius did not, however, dismissConstantineas his son, and perhaps Constantine chose to follow the example of his father here as well. Whatever the reason, Constantine kept Crispus at his side. Surviving sources are unanimous in declaring him a loving, trusting and protective father to his first son. Constantine even entrusted his education toLactantius, among the most important Christian teachers of that time, who probably started teaching Crispus before 317. CareerEdit By 313, there were two remainingaugustiin control of the Roman EmpireConstantine in the west and his brother-in-lawLiciniusin the east. On 1 March 317, the two co-reigningaugustijointly proclaimed three newcaesares: Crispus, alongside his younger half-brotherConstantine II, and his first cousinLicinius Iunior. Constantine II was the older son of Fausta but was only two years old at the time of his proclamation. Thus only Crispus assumed actual duties. Constantine apparently believed in the abilities of his son and appointed Crispus as Commander of Gaul. The newcaesarsoon held residence in Augusta Treverorum (modernTrier), regional capital ofGermania. In January 322, Crispus was married to a young woman called Helena. Helena bore him a son in October of that year. There is no surviving account of the name or later fate of the son.Eusebius of Caesareareported that Constantine was proud of his son and very pleased to become a grandfather. Crispus was leader in victorious military operations against theFranksand theAlamanniin 318, 320 and 323. Thus he secured the continued Roman presence in the areas of Gaul and Germania. The soldiers adored him thanks to his strategic abilities and the victories to which he had led theRoman legions. Crispus spent the following years assisting Constantine in the war against by then hostile Licinius. In 324, Constantine appointed Crispus as the commander of his fleet which left the port ofPiraeusto confront Licinius' fleet. The subsequentBattle of the Hellespontwas fought at the straits ofBosporus. The 200 ships under the command of Crispus managed to decisively defeat the enemy forces, which were at least double in number. Thus Crispus achieved his most important and difficult victory which further established his reputation as a brilliant general. Following his navy activities, Crispus was assigned part of the legions loyal to his father. The other part was commanded by Constantine himself. Crispus led the legions assigned to him in another victoriousbattle outside Chrysopolisagainst the armies of Licinius. The two victories were his contribution to the final triumph of his father over Licinius. Constantine was the onlyaugustusleft in the Empire. He honoured his son for his support and success by depicting his face in imperial coins, statues, mosaics, cameos, etc. Eusebius of Caesaria wrote for Crispus that he is "anImperatormost dear toGodand in all regards comparable to his father." Crispus was the most likely choice for an heir to the throne at the time. His siblingsConstantine II,Constantius IIandConstanswere far too young and knew very little about the tasks of an emperor. However, Crispus would never assume the throne. Execution Reverse of asolidusmarked:dncrispusnobcaes In 326, Crispus' life came to a sudden end. On his father's orders he was executed, apparently without trial, atPola,Istria, in the AugustanregioofVenetia et Histria. According toSidonius Apollinaris, Crispus was killed by "cold poison". Soon afterwards, Constantine had his wifeFaustakilled also, according to several sources in a hot bath or bathroom. Both Crispus and Fausta suffereddamnatio memoriae, their names being erased from inscriptions. The reason for these deaths remains unclear. The most common explanation given by scholars is based on the accounts ofZosimusandZonaras: that Crispus was executed due to suspicions that he was involved in an illicit relationship with Fausta. Recent scholars have been skeptical of this explanation. For instance, T. D. Barnes argues that as Crispus was based at Trier, and Fausta at Constantinople, they would not have had the opportunity to have an affair, while Hans Pohlsander suggests that the similarity of Zosimus' story to the myth ofPhaedraandHippolytusmakes its veracity doubtful. However, David Woods accepts the ancient evidence that Crispus and Fausta were believed to have had a relationship, suggesting that Fausta fell pregnant, and Crispus was implicated. According to Woods' theory, Fausta's death was caused by an attempted abortion, while Crispus committed suicide by poison in Pola, having been exiled there as punishment for his adultery. Other explanations put forward for Crispus' death include that he was executed in order to ensure the succession of his half-brothers, Constantine's sons by Fausta, and that it was unrelated to the death of Fausta; that it was due to Crispus suggesting that Constantine should retire; or that it was due to Crispus plotting against Constantine, possibly with Fausta and Licinius J. W. Drijvers concludes that the true explanation for the deaths of Crispus and Fausta will never be known. It is said that Constantine looked to pagan priests who were friends of his, such asSopater of Apamea, for the purification of his soul, but they refused, considering the act committed by Constantine as unforgivable, including the fact that he previously believed in a Christian woman who in her own son, who had shown her love and loyalty so many times

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