|
Selected Families and Individuals
Notes
Atheldus
She was also known as Athildis. Atheldus was the daughter of Coel/Coilus and Strada the Fair.
In 129, Atheldus married MARCOMIR IV, King of Franconia. He ruled from 128 to 149. (Wurts, 1945) He was the son of Odomar King of the Franks, ruling from 114 and died 128.
Children: – Clodomir IV – Gaodhal, king of Gall
Franconia is a region in Germany now part of Bavaria. The area was the seat of the Salian Holy Roman Emperors, and is considered one of the five original stem duchies that made up the Holy Roman Empire. Throughout the Middle Ages and into the Early Modern period, much of Upper Franconia, especially those areas that had once been parts of Thuringia, fell under the control of the Bishop of Bamberg, the Bishop of Würzburg, and the Abbot of Fulda.
Helena of the Cross
Also known as Helen of the Cross, Britannica, and Flavia Iulia Helena (Wurts, 1942; Drijvers, 2003).
Other sources indicate she was born in Drepanum in Bithynia. Procopius mentions that Constantine changed the name of Drepanum to Helenopolis because his mother was born there (Wurts, 1942; Drijvers, 2003).
Helena married FLAVIUS VALERIUS JULIUS CONSTANTIUS (later known as CONSTANTINE I CHLORUS). He was born March 31, ca. 250. His family was from Illyricum. (Wurts, 1942; DiMaio, 2003). He was the son of Flavius Valerius Constantius, born 242, and Claudia, daughter of Claudius II (Wurts, 1945).
On March 1, 293 Diocletian appointed Galerius as his Caesar in the east and Constantius as the Caesar in the west. Both Caesars had the right of succession. In order to strengthen the dynastic relationship between himself and Herculius, Constantius left Helena and married Theodora, the daughter, or perhaps stepdaughter, of Maximianus Herculius. They were the parents of: Flavius Dalmatius, Julius Constantius, Hannibalianus, Constantia, Anastasia, and Eutropia. To strengthen his bond with Galerius and Diocletian in the east, Constantius allowed Galerius to keep his son Constantine as a hostage for his good behavior (Wurts, 1942; DiMaio, 2003).
On May 1, 305 Diocletian, at Nicomedia, and Maximianus Herculius, at Mediolanum (Milan), appointed Constantius and Galerius as their successors, with Severus and Maximinus Daia as the new Caesars. Constantius, as had his predecessor, ruled in the west, while Galerius and Daia ruled in the east. Almost as soon as he was appointed Augustus, he crossed to Britain to face incursions by the Picts where he died at York on July 25, 306 with his son, Constantine, at his side (DiMaio, 2003).
In 306, when the troops in York proclaimed Constantine the successor of his father, Helena joined her son. There are ceiling frescoes in the imperial palace in Trier and a Helena tradition that indicate she once lived in the imperial residence. After Constantine defeated Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge, Helena moved to Rome. The fundus Laurentus, which included the Palatium Sessorianum, a circus and public baths (later called Thermae Helenae), came into her possession – several inscriptions are found in the area (DiMaio, 2003).
Before 324 she held the title of Nobilissma Femina as may be concluded from coins. In 324, after Constantine's defeat of Licinius, Helena received the title of Augusta (Wurts, 1945; DiMaio, 2003).
In 327-328, Helena embarked on a pilgrimage to Palestine. There are some sources that suggest she did this for religious reasons, other suggest it was a political move to strengthen her son's failing position, and a few say it was grief for the murder of her grandson, Crispus (Wurts, 1945; DiMaio, 2003).
Helena died in the presence of her son Constantine, shortly after her pilgrimage (DiMaio, 2003). The abrupt interruption in the issue of Helena Augusta-coins in the spring of 329 suggests she died either at the end of 328 or the beginning of 329. She was buried in Rome in the mausoleum near the Ss. Marcellino e Pietro at the Via Labicana. The porphyry sarcophagus, which contained her remains, is now in the Vatican Museum. (DiMaio, 2003).
The legend of Helena's discovery of the Cross originated in Jerusalem in the second half of the fourth century and rapidly spread. Helena was made a saint in the Eastern Orthodox and her feast day is May 21. She is also a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, with her feast day on August 18 (Wurts, 1945; DiMaio, 2003).
Child: — Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus, born in Naissus, 272/3 (Wurts, 1942; DiMaio, 2003)
Flavius Valerius Aurelius "Constantine the Great" Constantius
Also known as Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus. (Wurts, 1942; Pohlsander, 2003).
He was the son of Helena of the Cross and Flavius Valerius Julius Constantius (Wurts, 1942; Pohlsander, 2003).
He was born February 27, 271/2/3 at Naissus Naissus in the province of Moesia Superior, the modern Nish in Serbia (Wurts, 1942; Pohlsander, 2003).
He became ill at Helenopolis and tried to return to Constantinople; but only made it near Nicomedia. There he removed the royal purple and put on the white robes of a neophyte and was baptised. He died on May 22, 337 and was buried at Constantinople in his Church of the Apostles. He was raised in the court of Galerius. Galerius tried to separate Constantine from his father, but Constantine joined his father in Britain and on his death in 306, was proclaimed emperor in Eboracum (York). (Wurts, 1942)
He married MINERVINA who was, according to Gibbon, "the obscure but lawful object of this youthful attachment". (Wurts, 1942; Gibbon, 1960)
Child: — Flavius Valerius CRISPUS Caesar (Wurts, 1942; Gibbon, 1960)
He married FAUSTA in 307. She was the daughter of Maximinus and sister of his stepmother Theodora. Maximinus was a Roman Emperor from 286 to 305. Fausta had three daughters and three sons. Her involvement with the scandel of Crispus, as well as her own criminal actions with a stable slave, sentenced her to suffocation by the steam of a bath. It's assumed that Helena, the mother of Constantine, had a hand in uncovering the crimes of Fausta in revenge for the death of Crispus. Several accounts suggest that Fausta may have lived to weep over the death of her son Constantine three years after Constantine the Great's death. (Wurts, 1942; Gibbon, 1960)
Children: — Constantine II. (Wurts, 1942; Gibbon, 1960) — Constantius II. (Wurts, 1942; Gibbon, 1960) — Constans. (Wurts, 1942; Gibbon, 1960) — Constantina. (Wurts, 1942; Gibbon, 1960)
Civil war broke out between Constantine and Licinius in 323. After the battles of Adrianople and Chrysolpolis and the death of Licinius, Constantine attained the sole mastery of the empire. At the age of sixty-four, after a short illness, Constantine died at the palace of Achrrion, in the suburbs of Nicomedia. (Gibbon, 1960)
Constantine was quite active in his support of his faith: he commissioned new copies of the Bible for the growing congregations in Constantinople; he composed a special prayer for his troops; he had a mobile tent-chapel; he issued numerous laws on Christian practice; abolished the penalty of crucifixion; and gave observance to Sunday and Saints' days.
One of the many quotes attributed to Constantine was: "I shall still advance 'till HE, the invisible guide who marches before me, thinks proper to stop". (Wurts, 1942)
_________________________________________________
Flavius Valerius Crispus Caesar Constantius
At the age of 17 he was given the title of Caesar and the administration of the Gallic provinces. After the successful battle against Licinius, Crispus was kept at court and his titles and provinces were given to his brother Constantius. His ruin was brought upon by court intrigue, his father's jealousy and informants of Constantine. During that time, Faustina also accused Crispus of an incestouous attempt. During the 20th anniversary celebration of Constantine's reign, Crispus was apprehended by order of his father and sent by guard to Pola, in Istria, where he was put to death.
Flavius Valerius Aurelius "Constantine the Great" Constantius
Also known as Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus. (Wurts, 1942; Pohlsander, 2003).
He was the son of Helena of the Cross and Flavius Valerius Julius Constantius (Wurts, 1942; Pohlsander, 2003).
He was born February 27, 271/2/3 at Naissus Naissus in the province of Moesia Superior, the modern Nish in Serbia (Wurts, 1942; Pohlsander, 2003).
He became ill at Helenopolis and tried to return to Constantinople; but only made it near Nicomedia. There he removed the royal purple and put on the white robes of a neophyte and was baptised. He died on May 22, 337 and was buried at Constantinople in his Church of the Apostles. He was raised in the court of Galerius. Galerius tried to separate Constantine from his father, but Constantine joined his father in Britain and on his death in 306, was proclaimed emperor in Eboracum (York). (Wurts, 1942)
He married MINERVINA who was, according to Gibbon, "the obscure but lawful object of this youthful attachment". (Wurts, 1942; Gibbon, 1960)
Child: — Flavius Valerius CRISPUS Caesar (Wurts, 1942; Gibbon, 1960)
He married FAUSTA in 307. She was the daughter of Maximinus and sister of his stepmother Theodora. Maximinus was a Roman Emperor from 286 to 305. Fausta had three daughters and three sons. Her involvement with the scandel of Crispus, as well as her own criminal actions with a stable slave, sentenced her to suffocation by the steam of a bath. It's assumed that Helena, the mother of Constantine, had a hand in uncovering the crimes of Fausta in revenge for the death of Crispus. Several accounts suggest that Fausta may have lived to weep over the death of her son Constantine three years after Constantine the Great's death. (Wurts, 1942; Gibbon, 1960)
Children: — Constantine II. (Wurts, 1942; Gibbon, 1960) — Constantius II. (Wurts, 1942; Gibbon, 1960) — Constans. (Wurts, 1942; Gibbon, 1960) — Constantina. (Wurts, 1942; Gibbon, 1960)
Civil war broke out between Constantine and Licinius in 323. After the battles of Adrianople and Chrysolpolis and the death of Licinius, Constantine attained the sole mastery of the empire. At the age of sixty-four, after a short illness, Constantine died at the palace of Achrrion, in the suburbs of Nicomedia. (Gibbon, 1960)
Constantine was quite active in his support of his faith: he commissioned new copies of the Bible for the growing congregations in Constantinople; he composed a special prayer for his troops; he had a mobile tent-chapel; he issued numerous laws on Christian practice; abolished the penalty of crucifixion; and gave observance to Sunday and Saints' days.
One of the many quotes attributed to Constantine was: "I shall still advance 'till HE, the invisible guide who marches before me, thinks proper to stop". (Wurts, 1942)
_________________________________________________
Constantine II Constantius
Son of Fausta and Constantine, was twenty-one when he took possession of the new capital, 'Constantine' after the Flavian family massacre. Constantine II was defeated at Aquileia by Constans in 340, who then became ruler of the West. (Wurts, 1942)
Constans Constantius
He was seventeen when he was acknowledged as the lawful sovereign of Italy, Africa, and the western Illyricum after the Flavian family massacre. In 350 Constans was removed by Magnetius. (Wurts, 1942)
|
