CRISPUS CAESAR

died 326, Pola, Venetia in full Flavius Julius Crispus Constantine the Great's eldest son, executed under mysterious circumstances on his father's orders. His mother, Minerva (or Minervina), was divorced by Constantine in 307. Crispus received his education from the Christian writer Lactantius Firmianus. On March 1, 317, Constantine gave Crispus the title of caesar and made him titular ruler of Gaul. In the second war between Constantine and his co-emperor Licinius (324), Crispus commanded his father's fleet and won an important naval victory in the Hellespont. But in 326, while accompanying Constantine to Rome to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his accession, he was put to death at Pola. Shortly afterward his stepmother, Fausta, was also executed.