CONSTANS I

born c. 323 died 350, Gaul original name Flavius Julius Constans Roman emperor from 337 to 350. The fourth or fifth son of Constantine the Great (reigned 306337), Constans was proclaimed caesar by his father in 333. When Constantine died in 337, Constans and his two brothers, Constantius II and Constantine II, each adopted the title of augustus and divided the empire among themselves. Constans took control of Italy, Africa, and Illyricum (in the northwestern Balkans). In 340 Constantine IIruler of Spain, Gaul, and Britaininvaded northern Italy but was defeated and killed by Constans' army at Aquileia. This victory gave Constans, who at the time of the battle was at Naissus, control over the entire western half of the empire. He defended his realm successfully against the Franks in 341 and two years later visited Britain. In 350 he was overthrown and killed in Gaul by the usurper Magnus Magnentius. An ardent orthodox Christian, Constans was known as a vigorous opponent of Arianism (a doctrine that affirmed the created, finite nature of Christ) and paganism.