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Roman Emperor Constantius II

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Roman Emperor Constantius II

Conqueror of the Persians

AD 337 - 361

Constantius II followed in the footsteps of his father, Constantine the Great by becoming a Christian and propagating the faith throughout the Empire. He also became famous for his victories over the Persians, circa A.D. 248, just as George Bush became famous for defeating Saddam Hussein!

On his fathers' death in AD 337, Constantius II was given the Eastern Provinces of the Roman Empire and became involved in a war with Shapur II, Sassanid King of Persia. When his brother, the Western Emperor Constans I, was murdered by a Usurper, Magnentius, in 350, Constantius led an army into the Balkans, where hr defeated Magnentius at the battle of Mursa (modern Osijek, Croatia) and became sole ruler of the Empire. After campaigning against the Germans and Sarmatians on the Danube River in 357, he returned to the East, where he continued the war against the Sassanids. With these battles succeeding, the Emperor decided to start marching East. Unfortunately, he contracted a fatal infection and died near Tarsus in AD 361.

A man of unswerving devotion to duty, Constantius II gave the Empire many years of stable Government. Besides his military victories, he passed laws against Paganism and magic. He also, by decree, officially closed all Pagan temples.