Crispus AD 316-326 Bronze Follis London

Crispus AD 316-326 Bronze Follis

Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right/Camp gate with 2 turrets, star above

London

RCV16791; 19mm, 3.27g

 

Crispus was the eldest and probably most capable of Constantine’s sons. He was the only child of Constantine and his first wife Minervina and was born around AD 303.
As a child Crispus showed great promise and was elevated to Caesar in AD 316. This was partly as a result of the promotion of Valens to Augustus of the eastern empire. The promotion was made by Constantine’s co emperor Licinius during a Civil War then taking place between the eastern and western empires.
Following the cessation of hostilities in AD 317 the elevation of Crispus and by then also his half- brother, Constantine II, was made official. Licinius Junior was also promoted. Crispus proved his military talents by distinguishing himself in wars against the Alamanni and the Franks. In AD 321 he married Helena who bore him a child the following year.
Crispus again distinguished himself by inflicting a humiliating naval defeat on Licinius after which Constantine extended his rule over the entire empire. In AD 326 Constantine’s second wife Fausta appears to have engineered the downfall of Crispus by convincing Constantine that Crispus was plotting against him. Constantine had Crispus arrested and executed only to discover that Fausta was in fact plotting to have own sons installed in place of Crispus. Constantine was mortified and shortly afterwards Fausta suffered a similar fate.