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| ], holding her two sons, ] and ].]] | ], holding her two sons, ] and ].]] | ||
| '''Fausta Flavia Maxima''' was the daughter of the ] ]. To seal the alliance between them for control of the ], Maximianus married her to ] in ]. | '''Fausta Flavia Maxima''' was the daughter of the ] ]. To seal the alliance between them for control of the ], Maximianus married her to ] in ]. The marriage was totally & completely political. | ||
| It is suspected that Fausta was fiercely anti-] and plotting the Roman empire's return to ] behind her husband's back. Although the real reasons are not clear, Constantine eventually put her to death along with ], his eldest son by a previous marriage to ], in ]. ] suspected step-mother and step-son to be ]s to each other. Other authorities believe she may have falsely accused him of rape, then been executed for causing his death. | It is suspected that Fausta was fiercely anti-] and plotting the Roman empire's return to ] behind her husband's back. Although the real reasons are not clear, Constantine eventually put her to death along with ], his eldest son by a previous marriage to ], in ]. ] suspected step-mother and step-son to be ]s to each other. Other authorities believe she may have falsely accused him of rape, then been executed for causing his death. | ||
Revision as of 20:31, 28 January 2007
Fausta Flavia Maxima was the daughter of the Roman Emperor Maximianus. To seal the alliance between them for control of the Tetrarchy, Maximianus married her to Constantine I in 307. The marriage was totally & completely political.
It is suspected that Fausta was fiercely anti-Christian and plotting the Roman empire's return to paganism behind her husband's back. Although the real reasons are not clear, Constantine eventually put her to death along with Crispus, his eldest son by a previous marriage to Minervina, in 326. Eusebius of Caesarea suspected step-mother and step-son to be lovers to each other. Other authorities believe she may have falsely accused him of rape, then been executed for causing his death.
Her sons became Roman Emperors: Constantine II reigned 337 - 340, Constantius II reigned 337 - 361, and Constans reigned 337 - 350. Variety of sources, of more or less reliability, attest that she bore daughters Constantina, Helena and Fausta. Of these, Constantina married her cousins, firstly Hannibalianus and secondly Constantius Gallus, and Helena married Emperor Julian. Apparently a genealogical claim that her daughter Fausta became mother of Emperor Valentinian I is without foundation (Valentinian I and children of Constantine I's second marriage were born in years close to each other, i.e they were of the same generation).
External links
Media related to Fausta at Wikimedia Commons