Crispus Roman Caesar 'Prince' and son of
Constantine the Great for Sale by Expert Coin Dealer
Buy certified authentic Crispus,
Roman Caesar 317-326 A.D. general and son of Constantine I the Great
online today. He was actually Constantine's Oldest son, however,
Constantine's second wife Fausta accused him of trying to rape her, and
he was executed, and when the plot was brought to Constantine, he had
Fausta boiled in oil alive as punishment. Intriguing fate of the young
Roman price who was set to take throne next. It is interesting to note
that this similar drama had repeated itself many times throughout the
various different emperors up to and even past that time. Explore a
world of mystery, intrigue and wonder when you own authentic ancient
coins, whether to give as a gift, make a coin collection, an investment
or a to learn and preserve history for future generations, coins are
certainly it! Enjoy incredible value as every coin purchased here comes
with it's own, signed, custom-made certificate of authenticity, a
$50-$100 value, absolutely free! Check it out today.
Example of Authentic Ancient
Coin of:
Crispus - Roman Caesar: 317-326 A.D. -
Bronze Follis Cyzicus, 321-324 A.D.
Reference: RIC 16 (Plate22).
Rarity 4 in RIC. This coin is
much better than RIC.
DNFLIVLCRISPVS NOB CAES - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
IOVI CONSERVATORI Exe: SMKA - Jupiter standing left, chlamys across left
shoulder, holding
sceptre with eagle on top, Victory on globe in right hand; eagle with
wreath to left;
captive to right on ground.
In
Roman mythology,
Jupiter or Jove was the
king of the gods, and the god of
sky and
thunder. He is
 the
equivalent of
Zeus in the
Greek pantheon. He was called
Iuppiter (or Diespiter) Optimus Maximus ("Father God
the Best and Greatest"). As the patron deity of
ancient Rome, he ruled over laws and
social order. He was the chief god of the
Capitoline Triad, with sister/wife
Juno. Jupiter is also the father of the
god
Mars with Juno. Therefore, Jupiter is
the grandfather of
Romulus and Remus, the legendary
founders of Rome. Jupiter was venerated in
ancient Roman religion, and is still
venerated in
Roman Neopaganism. He is a son of
Saturn, along with brothers
Neptune and
Pluto. He is also the brother/husband
of
Ceres (daughter of Saturn and mother of
Proserpina), brother of
Veritas (daughter of Saturn), and
father of
Mercury.
Flavius Julius Crispus, also known as
Flavius Claudius Crispus and Flavius Valerius Crispus was a
Caesar of the
Roman Empire. He was the first-born son
of
Constantine I and
Minervina.
Birth
Crispus' year and place of birth are uncertain. He is
considered likely to have been born between 299 and 305, somewhere in
the
Eastern Roman Empire. His mother
Minervina was either a
concubine or a first wife to
Constantine. Nothing else is known about Minervina. His father served as
a hostage in the court of
Eastern Roman Emperor
Diocletian in
Nicomedia. Thus securing the loyalty of
Caesar of the
Western Roman Empire
Constantius Chlorus, father of
Constantine and grandfather of Crispus.
In 307, Constantine allied to the Italian
Augusti, and this alliance was sealed
with the marriage of Constantine to
Fausta, daughter of Maximian and sister
of Maxentius.
The marriage of Constantine to Fausta has caused
modern historians to question the status of his relation to
Minervina and Crispus. If Minervina was
his legitimate wife, Constantine would have needed to secure a
divorce before marrying Fausta. This
would have required an official written order signed by Constantine
himself, but no such order is mentioned by contemporary sources.
This silence in the sources has led many historians
to conclude that the relationship between Constantine and Minervina was
informal and to assume her to have been an unofficial lover. However,
Minervina may have already been dead by 307. A widowed Constantine would
need no divorce order.
Neither the true nature of the relationship between
Constantine and Minervina nor the reason Crispus came under the
protection of his father will ever probably be known. The offspring of
an illegitimate affair could have caused dynastical problems and would
likely be dismissed, but Crispus was raised by his father in
Gaul. This can be seen as evidence of a
loving and public relationship between Constantine and Minervina which
gave him a reason to protect her son.
The story of Minervina is quite similar to that of
Constantine's mother
Helena. Constantine's father later had
to divorce her for political reasons, specifically, to marry
Flavia Maximiana Theodora, the daughter
of
Maximian, in order to secure his
alliance with his new father-in-law. Constantine in turn may have had to
put aside Minervina in order to secure an alliance with the same man.
Constantius did not however dismiss
Constantine as his son, and perhaps
Constantine chose to follow the example of his father.
Education
Whatever the reason, Constantine kept Crispus at his
side. Surviving sources are unanimous in declaring him a loving,
trusting and protective father to his first son. Constantine even
entrusted his education to
Lactantius, among the most important
Christian
teachers of that time, who probably
started teaching Crispus before 317.
Career
By 317, there were two remaining Augusti in control
of the Roman Empire. Constantine reigned as an
Western Roman Emperor and his
brother-in-law
Licinius as an
Eastern Roman Emperor.
On
1 March 317, the two co-reigning
Augusti jointly proclaimed three new Caesars. Crispus alongside his
younger half-brother
Constantine II and his first cousin
Licinius iunior. Constantine II was the
older son of Fausta but was probably about a month old at the time of
his proclamation. Thus only Crispus assumed actual duties.
Constantine apparently believed in the abilities of
his son and appointed Crispus as Commander of Gaul. The new Caesar soon
held residence in Augusta Treverorum (modern
Trier), regional capital of
Germania.
In January 322, Crispus was married to a young woman
called Helena. Helena bore him a son in October, 322. There is no
surviving account of the name or later fate of the son.
Eusebius of Caesarea reported that
Constantine was proud of his son and very pleased to become a
grandfather.
Crispus was leader in victorious military operations
against the
Franks and the
Alamanni in 318, 320 and 323. Thus he
secured the continued Roman presence in the areas of Gaul and Germania.
Crispus joined his father in visiting Rome during 322, and received the
warmest and most enthusiastic welcome by the crowds. The soldiers adored
him thanks to his strategic abilities and the victories to which he had
led the
Roman legions.
Crispus spent the following years assisting
Constantine in the war against by then hostile Licinius. In 324,
Constantine appointed Crispus as the commander of his fleet which left
the port of
Piraeus to confront the rival fleet of
Licinius. The subsequent
Battle of Hellespont was fought in at
the straits of
Bosporus. The 200 ships under the
command of Crispus managed to utterly beat the enemy forces which were
at least double in number. Thus Crispus achieved his most important and
difficult victory which further established his reputation as a
brilliant soldier and general.
Following his navy activities, Crispus was assigned
part of the legions loyal to his father. The other part was commanded by
Constantine himself. Crispus led the legions assigned to him in another
victorious
battle outside Chrysopolis against the
armies of Licinius.
The two victories were his contribution to the final
triumph of his father over Licinius. Constantine was the only Augustus
left in the Empire. He honoured his son for his support and success by
depicting his face in imperial coins, statues, mosaics, cameos, etc.
Eusebius of Caesaria wrote for Crispus that he is "an
Imperator most dear to
God and in all regards comparable to
his father."
Crispus was the most likely choice for an heir to the
throne at the time. His siblings
Constantine II,
Constantius II and
Constans were far too young and
inexperienced.
Execution
In 326, Crispus life came to a sudden end: on his
father's orders, he was tried by a local court at
Pola,
Istria, condemned to death and
executed. Soon afterwards, Constantine had his own wife,
Fausta, killed; she was suffocated in
an over-heated bath.[1]
The reason for this act remains unclear and
historians have long debated Constantine's motivation:
-
Zosimus in the 5th century and
Joannes Zonaras in the 12th century
both reported that Fausta, stepmother of Crispus, was extremely
jealous of him. She was reportedly afraid that Constantine would put
aside the sons she bore him. So, in order to get rid of Crispus,
Fausta set him up. She reportedly told the young Caesar that she was
in love with him and suggested an illegitimate love affair. Crispus
denied the immoral wishes of Fausta and left the palace in a state
of a shock. Then Fausta said to Constantine that Crispus had no
respect for his father, since the Caesar was in love with his
father's own wife. She reported to Constantine that she dismissed
him after his attempt to rape her. Constantine believed her and,
true to his strong personality and short temper, executed his
beloved son. A few months later, Constantine reportedly found out
the whole truth and then killed Fausta.
This version of events has become the most widely
accepted, since all other reports are even less satisfactory.
-
That Fausta and Crispus could have plotted
treason against Constantine is rejected by most historians. as they
would have nothing to gain considering their positions as favourites
of Constantine. In any case, such a case would not have been tried
by a local court as Crispus' case clearly was.
-
Another view suggests that Constantine killed
Crispus because as an supposedly illegitimate son, he would cause a
crisis in the order of succession to the throne. However,
Constantine had kept him at his side for twenty years without any
such decision. Constantine also had the authority to appoint his
younger, legitimate sons as his heirs.
-
Some reports claimed that Constantine was envious
of the success of his son and afraid of him. This seems improbable,
given that Constantine had twenty years of experience as emperor
while Crispus was still a young Caesar. Similarly, there seems to be
no evidence that Crispus had any ambitions to harm or displace his
father.
So while the story of Zosimus and Zonaras seems the
most believable one, there are also problems relating to their version
of events:
-
Constantine's reaction suggests that he suspected
Crispus of a crime so terrible that death was not enough. Crispus
also suffered
damnatio memoriae, meaning his name
was never mentioned again and was deleted from all official
documents and monuments. Crispus, his wife Helena and their son were
never to be mentioned again in historical records. The eventual fate
of Helena and her son is a mystery.
-
Constantine did not restore his son's innocence
and name, as he probably would have on learning of his son's
innocence. Perhaps Constantine's pride, or shame at having executed
his son, prevented him from publicly admitting having made a
mistake.
It is beyond doubt that there was a connection
between the deaths of Crispus and Fausta. Such agreement among different
sources connecting two deaths is extremely rare in itself. A number of
modern historians have suggested that Crispus and Fausta really did have
an illegitimate affair. When Constantine found out, his reaction was to
have both of them killed. What delayed the death of Fausta may have been
a
pregnancy. Since the years of birth for
the two known daughters of Constantine and Fausta remain unknown, one of
their births may have delayed their mother's execution.
The story of Zosimus and Zonaras listed above is
suspiciously similar to both the legend of
Hippolytus of
Athens (casting Crispus in the role of
the youth, Constantine in the role of
Theseus and Fausta in the role of
Phaedra) as well as the Biblical
account of
Joseph and Potiphar's wife.
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