Constantinian dynasty

The Constantinian dynasty is an informal name for the ruling family of the Roman Empire from Constantius Chlorus (died 306) to the death of Julian in 363. It is named after its most famous member, Constantine the Great, who became the sole ruler of the empire in 324. The dynasty is also called Neo-Flavian because every Constantinian emperor bore the name Flavius, similarly to the rulers of the first Flavian dynasty in the 1st century.

Constantine I with his two eldest sons by Fausta, Constantine II and Constantius II

Silver coin of Constans, showing Constans, Constantine II and Constantius II

Stemmata

In italics the augusti and the augustae.

• Constantius I
  1. From relationship between Constantius I and Helena
     • Constantine I
       1. From marriage between Constantine I and Minervina
          • Crispus
       2. From marriage between Constantine I and Fausta
          • Constantina, wife of Hannibalianus and Constantius Gallus
          • Constantine II
          • Constantius II
            1. No offspring from marriage between Constantius II and his first wife, daughter of Julius Constantius
            2. No offspring from marriage between Constantius II and Eusebia
            3. From marriage between Constantius II and Faustina
               • Constantia, wife of Gratian
          • Constans I
          • Helena, wife of Julian
  2. From marriage between Constantius Chlorus and Theodora
     • Flavius Dalmatius
       1. From marriage between Flavius Dalmatius and unknown wife
          • Flavius Dalmatius
          • Hannibalianus, husband of Constantina
     • Julius Constantius
       1. From marriage between Julius Constantius and Galla
          • son, died in the purges of 337
          • daughter, first wife of Constantius II
          • Constantius Gallus
            1. No offspring from marriage between Gallus and Constantina
       2. From marriage between Julius Constantius and Basilina
          • Julian
            1. No offspring from marriage between Julian and Helena, daughter of Constantine I
     • Hannibalianus (must have died before the imperial purges that occurred in 337 because he is not listed among its victims);
     • Anastasia;
     • Flavia Julia Constantia, wife of Licinius
       1. • Licinius II
     • Eutropia
       1. • Nepotianus

Family tree

CONSTANTINIAN DYNASTY detailed family tree

Afranius Hannibalianus Eutropia Maximian Western emperor Theodora Constantius I Chlorus Western emperor 250-305-306 Helena 250–330 Maxentius Western emperor Constantia 293–330 ∞ Licinius 250-308-324-325 Flavius Dalmatius censor 1.Galla Julius Constantius d. 337 ∞ 2.Basilina Anastasia Eutropia Fausta 289–326 Constantine I the Great 272-306-337 Minervina Dalmatius caesar Hannibalianus (1) Constantius Gallus (2) Julian 331-360-363 Helena d. 360 Constantina ∞ 1.Hannibalianus 2.Constantius Gallus Constantius II 317-337-361 ∞ Faustina Constantine II Western emperor 316-337-340 Constans I Western emperor 320-337-350 (daughter) ∞ Justus Crispus d. 326 Jovian 331-363-364 Marina Severa Valentinian I Western emperor VALENTINIANIC DYNASTY Justina Constantia 361–383 Gratian Western emperor 359-367-383 Galla Theodosius I Eastern emperor THEODOSIAN DYNASTY

Family of Constantinian dynasty

Emperors are shown with a rounded-corner border with their dates as Augusti, names with a thicker border appear in both sections 1: Constantine's parents and half-siblings Maximian 286–305 adoptive father Helena Constantius Chlorus 305–306 Flavia Maximiana Theodora Constantine I 306–337 Flavius Dalmatius Hannibalianus Flavia Julia Constantia Licinius 308–324 Anastasia Bassianus Galla Julius Constantius Basilina Licinius II Eutropia Virius Nepotianus Hannibalianus Constantina Constantius Gallus Julian 360–363 Helena Nepotianus 2: Constantine's children Minervina Constantine I 306–337 Fausta Crispus Constantine II 337–340 Constans 337–350 Hannibalianus Constantina Constantius Gallus Faustina Constantius II 337–361 Helena Julian 360–363 Gratian 367–383 Constantia

Relationship to other tetrarchs

Other rulers of the tetrarchy were related to the Constantinian dynasty:

• Maximian: adoptive father and stepfather-in-law of Constantius Chlorus, father-in-law of Constantine, stepgrandfather-in-law of Licinius
• Maxentius: adoptive brother and half-brother-in-law of Constantius Chlorus, brother-in-law of Constantine
• Licinius: son-in-law of Constantius Chlorus, half-brother-in-law of Constantine

References

• R. Scott Moore, "The Stemmata of the Neo-Flavian Emperors", DIR (1998)
• R. Scott Moore, "The Stemmata of the Emperors of the Tetrarchy", DIR (1998)