Constantius I Chlorus Roman Emperor in 305-306 Date of Birth: 31.03.0250 Country: Italy

1. Constantius I Chlorus: Early Life and Military Career
2. The Tetrarchy and Appointment as Caesar
3. Reign as Caesar: Campaigns and Administration
4. Elevation to Augustus and Death
5. Victories and Titles

Constantius I Chlorus: Early Life and Military Career

Born into a humble family from the Danubian provinces, Constantius Chlorus rose through the ranks of the Roman army, serving as a protector under Emperor Aurelian and participating in the campaign against the Palmyrene Empire. Although there are unverifiable claims of higher military appointments, the only confirmed role he held was as praeses (governor) of Dalmatia during the reign of Emperor Carus.

The Tetrarchy and Appointment as Caesar

Following the ascension of Diocletian to the imperial throne in 284 CE, Constantius became an important figure in his administration. In 286 CE, Diocletian appointed his close ally Maximian as co-emperor, dividing the empire into two halves: East and West. In 293 CE, Diocletian realized the need to share power further, creating a system known as the Tetrarchy. This involved appointing two junior emperors, or Caesars (Constantius and Galerius), each under the guidance of an Augustus (Diocletian and Maximian).

Reign as Caesar: Campaigns and Administration

As Caesar, Constantius played a key role in the Tetrarchy, assisting Maximian in campaigns against the Alemanni in northern Europe. To strengthen ties with the emperor, he married Maximian's daughter, Theodora. Constantius was tasked with suppressing the rebellion led by the usurper Carausius in Britain and Gaul. After unsuccessfully besieging Carausius' base in Boulogne, Constantius managed to take control of the island after Carausius was assassinated by his own treasury official.

Elevation to Augustus and Death

In 305 CE, both Diocletian and Maximian abdicated, elevating Constantius and Galerius to the rank of Augustus. As Augustus, Constantius successfully led a punitive expedition against the Picts and Scots. However, his reign was short-lived. He died in Eboracum (York) in 306 CE, sparking a crisis within the Tetrarchy.

Victories and Titles

Throughout his military career, Constantius earned numerous victory titles, including "Germanicus Maximus" (Greatest Conqueror of the Germans), "Britannicus Maximus" (Greatest Conqueror of the Britons), "Armeniacus Maximus" (Greatest Conqueror of the Armenians), and "Sarmaticus Maximus" (Greatest Conqueror of the Sarmatians).