General Notes

Crispus was the oldest son of the emperor Constantine I and
played afairly important role in the political and military
events of the earlyfourth century. The regular form of his full
name is Flavius IuliusCrispus, although the forms Flavius
Claudius Crispus and Flavius ValeriusCrispus also occur. His
mother was a woman named Minervina, with whomConstantine had a
relationship, probably illegitimate, before he marriedFausta in
307. When Minervina died or when Constantine put her aside wedo
not know. Nor do we know when she gave birth to Crispus; we
mayassume, of course, that it was before 307. Some modern
authorities, ongood grounds, think that it was in 305. Crispus'
place of birth must havebeen somewhere in the East, and it is
not known when he was brought toGaul and when, where, or under
what circumstances he was separated fromhis mother. Constantine
entrusted the education of his son to thedistinguished
Christian scholar Lactantius, thereby giving a clear signof his
commitment to Christianity. We are not told when
Lactantiusassumed his duties, but a date before 317 seems
likely. Nor do we knowhow successful he was in instilling
Christian beliefs and values in hisimperial pupil. No later
than January of 322 Crispus must have married awoman named
Helena -- not to be confused with Constantine's mother
ordaughter by the same name - and this woman bore him a child
in October of322. Constantine, we learn, was pleased. Crispus'
official career began at an early age and is well documented.
OnMarch 1 of 317, at Serdica (modern Sofia), his father
appointed himCaesar. The consulship was his three times, in
318, 321, and 324. Whilenominally in charge of Gaul, with a
prefect at his side, he successfullyundertook military
operations against the Franks and Alamanni in 320 and323. In
324, during the second war between Constantine and Licinius,
heexcelled as commander of Constantine's fleet in the waters of
theHellespont, the Propontis, and the Bosporus, thus making a
significantcontribution to the outcome of that war. The high
points of his careerare amply reflected in the imperial
coinage. In addition to coins, wehave his portrait, with
varying degrees of certainty, in a number ofsculptures,
mosaics, cameos, etc. Contemporary authors heap praises
uponhim. Thus the panegyrist Nazarius speaks of Crispus'
'magnificent deeds,'and Eusebius calls him 'an emperor most
dear to God and in all regardscomparable to his father.'
Crispus' end was as tragic as his career had been brilliant.
His ownfather ordered him to be put to death. We know the year
of this sadevent, 326, from the Consularia Constantinopolitana,
and the place, Polain Istria, from Ammianus Marcellinus. The
circumstances, however, areless clear. Zosimus (6th c.) and
Zonaras (12th c.) both report thatCrispus and his stepmother
Fausta were involved in an illicitrelationship. There may be as
much gossip as fact in their reports, butit is certain that at
some time during the same year the emperor orderedthe death of
his own wife as well, and the two cases must be
consideredtogether. That Crispus and Fausta plotted treason is
reported by Gregoryof Tours, but not very believable. We must
resolutely reject the claim ofZosimus that it was Constantine's
sense of guilt over these deeds whichcaused him to accept
Christianity, as it alone promised him forgivenessfor his sins.
A similar claim had already been made by Julian theApostate. We
must also, I think, reject the suggestion of Guthrie thatthe
emperor acted in the interest of 'dynastic legitimacy,' that
is, thathe removed his illegitimate first-born son in order to
secure thesuccession for his three legitimate younger sons. But
Crispus must havecommitted, or at least must have been
suspected of having committed, someespecially shocking offense
to earn him a sentence of death from his ownfather. He also
suffered damnatio memoriae, his honor was never restored,and
history has not recorded the fate of his wife and his child
(orchildren). [Copyright (C) 1997, Hans A. Pohlsander]
---------- Crispus Caesar, in full FLAVIUS JULIUS CRISPUS (d.
326, Pola, Venetia),Constantine the Great's eldest son,
executed under mysteriouscircumstances on his father's orders.
His mother, Minerva (orMinervina), was divorced by Constantine
in 307. Crispus received hiseducation from the Christian writer
Lactantius Firmianus. On March 1,317, Constantine gave Crispus
the title of caesar and made him titularruler of Gaul. In the
second war between Constantine and his co-emperorLicinius
(324), Crispus commanded his father's fleet and won an
importantnaval victory in the Hellespont. But in 326, while
accompanyingConstantine 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.
[EncyclopÃŒdia Britannica CD '97, EncyclopÃŒdiaBritannica, Inc.,