Editing Constans (section)

== Reign ==
[[File:Head of Emperor Constans (r. 337–50) MET DT5196.jpg|left|thumb|Possible head of Constans from around his proclamation as ''augustus''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Weitzmann |first=Kurt |url=https://libmma.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15324coll10/id/155817 |title=Age of Spirituality: Late Antique and Early Christian Art, Third to Seventh Century |date=1979 |publisher=[[Metropolitan Museum of Art]] |pages=22–23}}</ref><ref>[http://laststatues.classics.ox.ac.uk/database/detail.php?record=LSA-336 http://laststatues.classics.ox.ac.uk, LSA-336 (J. Lenaghan)]</ref>]]
[[File:INC-1865-a Солид. Констант I. Ок. 340—350 гг. (аверс).png|thumb|''[[Solidus (coin)|Solidus]]'' of Constans marked: {{Smallcaps|constans augustus}}.]]
After Constantine's death, Constans and his two brothers, [[Constantine II (emperor)|Constantine II]] and [[Constantius II]] were proclaimed ''[[Augustus (title)|augusti]]'' and divided the Roman empire among themselves on 9 September 337.{{sfn|Jones|Martindale|Morris|p=220}} Constans was left with Italy, Africa and Illyricum.{{sfn|Hunt|1998|p=4}} In 338, he campaigned against the [[Sarmatians]].{{sfn|Hunt|1998|p=5}}

Meanwhile, Constans came into conflict with his eldest brother Constantine II over the latter's presumed authority over Constans' territory. After attempting to issue legislation to Africa in 339, which was part of Constans' realm, Constantine led his army into an invasion of Italy only a year later. However, he was ambushed and killed by Constans' troops, and Constans then took control of his brother's territories.{{sfn|Hunt|1998|p=5}}

[[File:9 Solidi, Constans, emperor in armor, Aquileia, 342 AD - Bode-Museum - DSC02728.JPG|thumb|Gold medallion of Constans, equivalent to 9 [[solidi]]. [[Aquileia]], 342 AD – [[Bode Museum]]|alt=]]

Constans began his reign in an energetic fashion.{{sfn|Crawford|2016|p=67}}{{sfn|Barnes|1993|p=269}} From 341 to 342, he led a campaign against the [[Franks]] where, after an initial setback,{{sfn|Woudhuysen|2018|p=175}} the military operation concluded with a victory and a favorable peace treaty.{{sfn|Hunt|1998|p=6}} [[Eutropius (historian)|Eutropius]] wrote that he "had performed many gallant actions in the field, and had made himself feared by the army through the whole course of his life, though without exercising any extraordinary severity,"<ref name="Eutropius, 10:9">[[Eutropius (historian)|Eutropius]], ''Historiae Romanae Breviarium'' X.9</ref> while [[Ammianus Marcellinus]] remarked that [[Julian (emperor)|Julian]] was the only person the Alamanni feared after the death of Constans.{{sfn|Hunt|1998|p=6}}

In the early months of 343, he visited [[Roman Britain|Britain]], an event celebrated enough for Libanius to dedicate several sections of his panegyric to explaining it.{{sfn|Hunt|1998|p=6}} Although the reasons for the visit remain unclear,{{sfn|Birley|2005|p=415}} the ancient writers were primarily interested in Constans' precarious journey to the province, rather than his actions within it.{{sfn|Hunt|1998|p=6}} One theory considers it to have involved the northern frontier, based on Ammianus' remark that he had discussed the [[Areani]] in his now-lost coverage of Constans' reign. Additionally, after recording attacks "near the frontiers" in 360, the historian wrote that the Alamanni were too much of a threat for Julian to confront the problem, in contrast to what Constans was able to do.{{sfn|Birley|2005|p=415}}

Constans was accused of employing corrupt ministers during his reign, due to his purported personal greed.{{sfn|Barnes|1993|p=101}}{{sfn|Harries|2012|p=190}}{{sfn|Woudhuysen|2018|p=160}} One example included the ''magister officiorum'' (master of the offices) Flavius Eugenius, who remained in his position throughout most of the 340s.{{sfn|Jones|Martindale|Morris|p=292}} Despite Eugenius being alleged to have misused his power to seize property,{{sfn|Jones|Martindale|Morris|p=292}} the emperor continued to support him, his trust going as far as to honor him with a statue in the [[Forum of Trajan]] in [[Rome]].{{sfn|Crawford|2016|p=66}}

[[File:Constanscng90010171.jpg|thumb|left|300px|''Solidus'' of Constans marked: {{Smallcaps|constans {{abbreviation|p·f·|PIUS FELIX}} augustus}} on the obverse, with the emperor holding a ''[[vexillum]]'' with a ''[[chi-rho]]'' and crowned by [[Victoria (mythology)|Victory]] on the reverse, marked: {{Smallcaps|spes rei publicae}} ("''the hope of the Republic''")|alt=]]

===Religion===
Constans issued an edict banning superstition and pagan sacrifices in 341,{{sfn|Woudhuysen|2018|p=165}} his justification being that he was following the precedent set by his father.{{sfn|Hunt|1998|p=7}} Only a short while later though, he tried to moderate his stance by legislating against the destruction of temple buildings.{{sfn|Woudhuysen|2018|p=166}}

Constans' support of [[Nicene Christianity|Nicene orthodoxy]] and the bishop [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] brought him into conflict with his brother Constantius. Although the two emperors called the [[Council of Serdica]] in 343 to settle the conflict, it was a complete failure,{{sfn|Hunt|1998|p=8}} and by 345 Constans was outright threatening civil war against his brother.{{sfn|Barnes|1993|p=89}} Eventually, Constantius agreed to allow Athanasius to return to his position, as the bishop's replacement had recently died.{{sfn|Hunt|1998|p=9}} Constans also used the military to suppress [[Donatism]] in Africa, where the church was split between Donatists and Catholics.{{sfn|Hunt|1998|p=9}}

===Alleged homosexuality===
Unlike Constantius,{{sfn|Crawford|2016|p=24}} Constans was targeted with gossip over his personal life.{{sfn|Crawford|2016|p=71}} Numerous sources suspected him of homosexuality,{{sfn|Woudhuysen|2018|p=160}} presumably based on the fact that he never married.{{sfn|Harries|2012|p=190}} [[Aurelius Victor]] charged Constans with "rabid"{{sfn|Barnes|1993|p=101}} [[pederasty]] towards young barbarian hostages,{{sfn|Crawford|2016|p=71}} though Hunt remarked that "the allegation that he kept a coterie of captive barbarians to gratify his homosexual tastes sounds more like hostile folklore."{{sfn|Hunt|1998|p=10}} Constans' legislation against homosexuality has been cited to dispute the rumor.{{sfn|Hunt|1998|p=10}}{{sfn|Woudhuysen|2018|pp=167, 179}}