Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Introduction: In the Shadows of Constantine and Julian—The Sons of Constantine, AD 337–361

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Sons of Constantine, AD 337-361

Part of the book series: New Approaches to Byzantine History and Culture ((NABHC))

Abstract

This chapter serves as an introduction to the volume, The Sons of Constantine AD 337–361. It begins by considering the predominant approaches to the study of the Constantinian dynasty and the period of its duration prior to discussing the point of departure for the volume. This includes a bibliographic survey of scholarly literature for the reigns of Constantine’s sons and an overview of the editions and translations of the key historiographic and literary sources for the period. It is followed by a summary of all chapters in the volume which have been arranged according to the following headings: (1) Creating a Dynasty; (2) Representations of Authority; (3) Administration and Governance and (4) Religion and Culture.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol. 2 (1781), chap. 18, ed. Womersley 1994, vol. 1: 662–663.

  2. 2.

    Pocock 2015: 52.

  3. 3.

    Vol. 1 (1776), chap. 3, ed. Womersley 1994, vol. 1: 98.

  4. 4.

    Cf. Burgess 2008: 19–21.

  5. 5.

    See, for instance, Tougher 2012: 182–184, 186.

  6. 6.

    See Humphries 2012.

  7. 7.

    Lib., Or. 18.10.

  8. 8.

    Julian., Ep. ad Ath. 270d.

  9. 9.

    Julian., Ep. ad Ath. 271a.

  10. 10.

    Burgess 2008.

  11. 11.

    Hekster 2015.

  12. 12.

    Duindam 2016.

  13. 13.

    Duindam 2016: 88.

  14. 14.

    See esp. Burgess 2008.

  15. 15.

    For example, McLynn 1990.

  16. 16.

    Vittinghoff 1989.

  17. 17.

    Frend 1989.

  18. 18.

    Pietri 1989.

  19. 19.

    Cracco Ruggini 1989.

  20. 20.

    Barnes 1989.

  21. 21.

    Brennecke 1984.

  22. 22.

    Mudd 1989. See Drinkwater 1991 for a review.

  23. 23.

    Cuneo 1997.

  24. 24.

    Barnes 1993.

  25. 25.

    Diefenbach 2012, 2015.

  26. 26.

    Stevenson 2014.

  27. 27.

    Barceló 2004, with the subtitle, Die Anfänge des Staatskirchentums.

  28. 28.

    Humphries 1997, 1998.

  29. 29.

    Flower 2013, 2016.

  30. 30.

    For example on Book 21 of Ammianus, see Den Boeft et al. 1991.

  31. 31.

    Teitler 1992.

  32. 32.

    Barnes 1993: 132–138.

  33. 33.

    Kelly 2005, 2008: 225–230.

  34. 34.

    Chausson 2007.

  35. 35.

    Hekster 2015.

  36. 36.

    Wienand 2012, 2015; Hekster 2015: 225–237.

  37. 37.

    Burgess 2008.

  38. 38.

    Woods 2011.

  39. 39.

    Marcos 2014.

  40. 40.

    Vanderspoel 1995: 71–113.

  41. 41.

    Henck 2001a, 2001b, 2007.

  42. 42.

    Lightfoot 1981, 1988.

  43. 43.

    Blockley 1989, 1992.

  44. 44.

    Moser 2018.

  45. 45.

    Drinkwater 1994, 2000.

  46. 46.

    Bleckmann 1994, 1999a, 1999b, 2003.

  47. 47.

    Cuneo 2012.

  48. 48.

    Woudhuysen 2018.

  49. 49.

    Cf. Flower 2012.

  50. 50.

    Maraval 2013.

  51. 51.

    Frakes 2006. See also Tougher 2012.

  52. 52.

    Hunt 1998.

  53. 53.

    Potter 2004.

  54. 54.

    Harries 2012.

  55. 55.

    Lieu and Montserrat 1996.

  56. 56.

    Malosse 2003.

  57. 57.

    Tantillo 1997.

  58. 58.

    Heather and Moncur 2001.

  59. 59.

    Flower 2016.

  60. 60.

    Bird 1993 and 1994.

  61. 61.

    See Bleckmann 1999b; cf. Al. Cameron 2011: 626–690.

  62. 62.

    Banchich and Lane 2009.

  63. 63.

    Amidon 2007.

  64. 64.

    Cf. Ferguson 2005: 129–163.

  65. 65.

    Des Places et al. 2013.

  66. 66.

    For example Brennecke et al. 2006, 2007.

  67. 67.

    http://www.fourthcentury.com/. Accessed October 2018.

  68. 68.

    See the pertinent remarks by Barnes 2011: 162–168.

  69. 69.

    Stewart 2008: 112.

  70. 70.

    Exemplified by Euseb., Vit. Const. 4.51.1.

  71. 71.

    Julian., Or. 1.19a.

  72. 72.

    See the discussion in this volume by William Lewis.

  73. 73.

    Julian., Or. 1.19b–c; Them., Or. 2.38d.

  74. 74.

    See the important study by Parvis 2006.

  75. 75.

    For instance, Brown 1992; Dillon 2012; Elm 2012; Flower 2013.

References

  • Amidon, P. R. (2007). Philostorgius: Church History. Atlanta.

    Google Scholar 

  • Banchich, T. M., & Lane, E. N. (2009). The History of Zonaras. From Alexander to the Death of Theodosius the Great. London and New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barceló, P. (2004). Constantius II. und seine Zeit: Die Anfange des Staatskirchentums. Stuttgart.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnes, T. D. (1989). Christians and Pagans in the Reign of Constantius. In A. Dihle (Ed.), L’église et l’empire au IVe siècle (pp. 301–337). Geneva.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnes, T. D. (1993). Athanasius and Constantius: Theology and Politics in the Constantinian Empire. Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnes, T. D. (2011). Constantine: Dynasty, Religion and Power in the Later Roman Empire. Oxford and Malden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bird, H. W. (1993). Eutropius: Breviarium. Liverpool.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bird, H. W. (1994). Aurelius Victor: De Caesaribus. Liverpool.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bleckmann, B. (1994). Constantina, Vetranio und Gallus Caesar. Chiron, 24, 29–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bleckmann, B. (1999a). Decentius, Bruder oder Cousin des Magnentius? Göttinger Forum fϋr Altertumswissenschaft, 2, 85–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bleckmann, B. (1999b). Die Schlact von Mursa und die zeitgenössische Deutung eines spätantiken Bürgerkrieges. In H. Brandt (Ed.), Gedeutete Realtät: Krisen, Wirklichkeiten, Interpretationen (3.–6 Jh. n. Chr.) (pp. 47–101). Stuttgart.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bleckmann, B. (2003). Der Bürgerkrieg zwischen Constantin II. und Constans (340 n. Chr.). Historia, 52, 225–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blockley, R. C. (1989). Constantius II and Persia. In C. Deroux (Ed.), Studies in Latin Literature and Roman History (pp. 465–490). Brussels.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blockley, R. C. (1992). East Roman Foreign Policy. Formation and Conduct from Diocletian to Anastasius. Leeds.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brennecke, H.-C. (1984). Hilarius von Poitiers und die Bischofsopposition gegen Konstantius II: Untersuchungen zur dritten Phase des ‘Arianischen Streites’ (337–361). Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brennecke, H.-C., Heil, U., & von Stockhausen, A. (Eds.). (2006). Athanasius Werke. Zweiter Band. Die Apologien. Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brennecke, H.-C., Heil, U., von Stockhausen, A., & Wintjes, A. (Eds.). (2007). Dokumente zur Geschichte des arianischen Streites. 3. Lieferung. Bis zu Ekthesis Makrostichos. Athanasius Werke. Dritter Band. Erster Teil. Berlin/New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, P. (1992). Power and Persuasion in Late Antiquity: Towards a Christian Roman Empire. Madison, WI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burgess, R. W. (2008). The Summer of Blood: The “Great Massacre” of 337 and the Promotion of the Sons of Constantine. DOP, 62, 5–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, A. (2011). Last Pagans of Rome. Oxford and New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chausson, F. (2007). Stemmata Aurea: Constantin, Justine, Théodose: revendications généalogiques et l’idéologie impériale au IVe siècle ap. J.-C. Rome.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cracco Ruggini, L. (1989). “Felix Temporum Reparatio”: Realtà socio-economiche in movimento durante in ventennio di regno (Costanzo II Augusto, 337–361 d.C.). In A. Dihle (Ed.), L’église et l’empire au IVe siècle (pp. 179–249). Geneva.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuneo, P. O. (1997). La Legislazione di Costantino II, Costanzo II e Costante (337–361). Milan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuneo, P. O. (2012). Anonymi graeci oratio funebris in Constantinum II. Milan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Den Boeft, J., den Hengst, D., & Teitler, H. (1991). Philological and Historical Commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus XXI. Groningen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Des Places, E. et al. (2013). Philostorge. Histoire ecclésiastique. Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diefenbach, S. (2012). Constantius II. und die “Reichskirche”. Ein Beitrag zum Verhältnis von kaiserlicher Kirchenpolitik und politischer Integration im 4 Jh. Millennium, 9, 59–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diefenbach, S. (2015). A Vain Quest for Unity: Creeds and Political (Dis)Integration in the Reign of Constantius II. In J. Wienand (Ed.), Contested Monarchy: Integrating the Roman Empire in the Fourth Century AD (pp. 353–378). Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dillon, J. N. (2012). The Justice of Constantine: Law, Communication, and Control. Ann Arbor, MI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drinkwater, J. F. (1991). Review of Mudd 1989. CR, 41(1), 287–288.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drinkwater, J. F. (1994). Silvanus, Ursicinus, and Ammianus: Fact and Fiction. In C. Deroux (Ed.), Studies in Latin Literature and Roman History (Vol. 7, pp. 568–576). Brussels.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drinkwater, J. F. (2000). The Revolt and Ethnic Origin of the Usurper Magnentius (350–353) and the Revolt of Vetranio (350). Chiron, 30, 131–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duindam, J. (2016). Dynasties: A Global History of Power, 1300–1800. Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elm, S. (2012). Sons of Hellenism, Fathers of the Church. Emperor Julian, Gregory of Nazianzus and the Vision of Rome. Berkeley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, T. C. (2005). The Past Is Prologue: The Revolution of Nicene Historiography. Leiden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flower, R. (2012). Visions of Constantine. JRS, 102, 287–305.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flower, R. (2013). Emperors and Bishops in Late Roman Invective. Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flower, R. (2016). Imperial Invectives Against Constantius II: Athanasius of Alexandria, History of the Arians, Hilary of Poitiers, Against Constantius and Lucifer of Cagliari, The Necessity of Dying for the Son of God. Liverpool.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frakes, R. M. (2006). The Dynasty of Constantine Down to 363. In N. Lenski (Ed.), The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Constantine (pp. 91–107). Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frend, W. H. C. (1989). The Church in the Reign of Constantius II (337–361): Mission-Monasticism-Worship. In A. Dihle (Ed.), L’église et l’empire au IVe siècle (pp. 73–112). Geneva.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbon, E. (1994). The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Ed. D. Womersley (3 Vols.). London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harries, J. (2012). Imperial Rome AD 384 to 363: The New Empire. Edinburgh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heather, P., & Moncur, D. (2001). Politics, Philosophy and Empire in the Fourth Century: Select Orations of Themistius. Liverpool.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hekster, O. (2015). Emperors and Ancestors: Roman Rulers and the Constraints of Tradition. Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henck, N. (2001a). Constantius ό Φιλοκτίστης. DOP, 55, 281–304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henck, N. (2001b). Constantius’ Paideia, Intellectual Milieu and Promotion of the Liberal Arts. PCPhS, 47, 172–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henck, N. (2007). Constantius and the Cities. BICS, 51, 147–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphries, M. (1997). In Nomine Patris: Constantine the Great and Constantius II in Christological Polemic. Historia, 46, 448–464.

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphries, M. (1998). Savage Humour: Christian Anti-Panegyric in Hilary of Poitiers’ Against Constantius. In M. Whitby (Ed.), The Propaganda of Power: The Role of Panegyric in Late Antiquity (pp. 201–224). Leiden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphries, M. (2012). The Tyrant’s Mask? Images of Good and Bad Rule in Julian’s Letter to the Athenians. In N. Baker-Brian & S. Tougher (Eds.), Emperor and Author: The Writings of Julian the Apostate (pp. 75–90). Swansea.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, D. (1998). The Successors of Constantine. In A. Cameron & P. Garnsey (Eds.), The Cambridge Ancient History (The Late Empire, AD 337–425) (Vol. 13, pp. 1–43). Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, G. (2005). Constantius II, Julian, and the Example of Marcus Aurelius: Ammianus Marcellinus XXI.16.11–12. Latomus, 64, 409–416.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, G. (2008). Ammianus Marcellinus, The Allusive Historian. Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, R. (1977). Constantius II. und die christliche Kirche. Darmstadt.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lieu, S. N. C., & Montserrat, D. (Eds.). (1996). From Constantine to Julian: Pagan and Byzantine Views. A Source History. London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lightfoot, C. S. (1981). The Eastern Frontier of the Roman Empire with Special Reference to the Reign of Constantius II (PhD dissertation). Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lightfoot, C. S. (1988). Facts and Fiction – The Third Siege of Nisibis (A.D. 350). Historia, 37, 105–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malosse, P.-L. (2003). Libanios: Discours. Tome IV: Discours LIX. Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maraval, P. (2013). Les fils de Constantin. Constantin II (337–340), Constance II (337–361) and Constant (337–350). Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marcos, M. (2014). Constantine, Dalmatius Caesar, and the Summer of A.D. 337. Latomus, 73, 748–774.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLynn, N. (1990). Review of Dihle 1989. CQ, 40(2), 392–393.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moser, M. (2018). Emperors and Senators in the Reign of Constantius II: Maintaining Imperial Rule Between Rome and Constantinople in the Fourth Century AD. Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mudd, M. M. (1989). Studies in the Reign of Constantius II. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parvis, S. (2006). Marcellus of Ancyra and the Lost Years of the Arian Controversy 325–345. Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pietri, C. (1989). La politique de Constance II: un premier “césaropapisme” ou l’imitatio Constantini. In A. Dihle (Ed.), L’Église et l’empire au IVe siècle (pp. 113–172). Geneva.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pocock, J. G. A. (2015). Barbarism and Religion. Barbarism: Triumph in the West (Vol. 6). Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Potter, D. (2004). The Roman Empire at Bay. AD 180–395. London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevenson, W. (2014). Exiling Bishops: The Policy of Constantius II. DOP, 68, 7–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, P. (2008). The Social History of Roman Art. Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tantillo, I. (1997). La Prima Orazione di Giuliano a Costanzo. Introduzione, Traduzione e Commento. Rome.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teitler, H.C. (1992). Ammianus and Constantius: Image and Reality. In J. Den Boeft, D. Den Hengst, H.C. Teitler (Eds.), Cognitio Gestorum: The Historiographic Art of Ammianus Marcellinus (pp. 117–122). Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tougher, S. (2012). Imperial Blood: Family Relationships in the Dynasty of Constantine the Great. In M. Harlow & L. Larsson Lovén (Eds.), Families in the Roman and Late Antique World (pp. 181–198). London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vanderspoel, J. (1995). Themistius and the Imperial Court: Oratory, Civic Duty and Paideia from Constantius to Theodosius. Ann Arbor, MI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vittinghoff, F. (1989). Staat, Kirche und Dynastie beim Tode Konstantins. In A. Dihle (Ed.), L’église et l’empire au IVe siècle (pp. 1–34). Geneva.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogler, C. (1979). Constance II et l’administration impériale. Strasbourg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wienand, J. (2012). The Making of an Imperial Dynasty. Optatian’s carmina figurata and the Development of the Constantinian Domus Divina. Giornale italiano di filologia, 3, 225–265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wienand, J. (2015). The Empire’s Golden Shade: Icons of Sovereignty in an Age of Transition. In J. Wienand (Ed.), Contested Monarchy: Integrating the Roman Empire in the Fourth Century AD (pp. 423–451). Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woods, D. (2011). Numismatic Evidence and the Succession to Constantine I. NC, 171, 187–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woudhuysen, G. (2018). Uncovering Constans’ Image. In W. P. Burgersdijk & A. J. Ross (Eds.), Imagining Emperors in the Later Roman Empire (pp. 158–182). Leiden.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK

    Nicholas Baker-Brian & Shaun Tougher

Authors
  1. Nicholas Baker-Brian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shaun Tougher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicholas Baker-Brian .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK

    Nicholas Baker-Brian

  2. Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK

    Shaun Tougher

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Baker-Brian, N., Tougher, S. (2020). Introduction: In the Shadows of Constantine and Julian—The Sons of Constantine, AD 337–361. In: Baker-Brian, N., Tougher, S. (eds) The Sons of Constantine, AD 337-361. New Approaches to Byzantine History and Culture. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39898-9_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39898-9_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-39897-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-39898-9

  • eBook Packages: HistoryHistory (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation