<sod>  '''Constantius II''' was the middle of the three sons of [[Constantine I the Great]] and [[Fausta]].
 
 
He was born in [[Illyricum]] and named [[Caesar]] or Junior [[Emperor]]. When his father died in AD [[337]], he led the massacre of his relatives decended from the second marriage of [[Constantius I Chlorus]] and [[Theodora]], leaving himself, his older brother [[Constantine II]], and his younger brother [[Constans]] as the surviving adult males related to Constantius, and they divided the [[Roman Empire]] between them. Constantine II received [[Britain]], [[Gaul]] and [[Spain]]; Constans ruled [[Italy]], [[Africa]], and the [[Illyria|Illyrian provinces]]; and Constantius ruled [[Constantinople]] and the East.
 
 This division changed when Constantine II died in [[340]], trying to overthrow Constans in Italy, and Constans become sole ruler in the Western half of the empire. The division changed once more in [[350]] when Constans was killed in battle by forces loyal to the usurper [[Magnentius]]. Until this time Constantius was preoccupied with fighting the [[Sassanid|Persian Empire]], and he was forced to elevate his cousin [[Gallus]] to Caesar to assist him while he turned his attention to this usurper.
 
 <eod> <sod> '''Constantius II''' was the middle of the three sons of [[Constantine I the Great]] and [[Fausta]].
 
 
He was born in [[Illyricum]] and named [[Caesar]] or Junior [[Emperor]]. When his father died in AD [[337]], he led the massacre of his relatives decended from the second marriage of [[Constantius I Chlorus]] and [[Theodora]], leaving himself, his older brother [[Constantine II of the Roman Empire|Constantine II]], and his younger brother [[Constans]] as the surviving adult males related to Constantius, and they divided the [[Roman Empire]] between them. Constantine II received [[Britain]], [[Gaul]] and [[Spain]]; Constans ruled [[Italy]], [[Africa]], and the [[Illyria|Illyrian provinces]]; and Constantius ruled [[Constantinople]] and the East.
 
 This division changed when Constantine II died in [[340]], trying to overthrow Constans in Italy, and Constans become sole ruler in the Western half of the empire. The division changed once more in [[350]] when Constans was killed in battle by forces loyal to the usurper [[Magnentius]]. Until this time Constantius was preoccupied with fighting the [[Sassanid|Persian Empire]], and he was forced to elevate his cousin [[Gallus]] to Caesar to assist him while he turned his attention to this usurper.
 
 <eod>