Constantius III

Constantius III was a leading western Roman general who restored much of the authority lost during the invasions and usurpations of the early fifth century. He defeated the usurper Constantine III, campaigned against Visigoths and other groups, and became the dominant figure at the court of Honorius.

He married Galla Placidia and was proclaimed co-emperor in 421, but died after only a few months, leaving their young son Valentinian III as a future claimant. Constantius III was born in Niš and died in Ravenna.

In Faith L. Justice’s Twilight Empress, the Visigothic sack of Rome in 410 leaves her a captive of Alaric’s people, and her marriage to Ataulf makes her a Gothic queen before death and renewed diplomacy return her to Roman dynastic politics. Placidia later marries Constantius III and becomes mother of Valentinian III, governing through court alliances as the western empire faces military strongmen, rebellious relatives, Vandals and Attila’s Huns. In Ian Hughes’ Constantius III, Constantius emerged after the execution of Stilicho and the sack of Rome, when the government of Honorius had lost control over much of Gaul and Hispania. Further fictional perspectives on Constantius III can be found in Ben Kane’s Rome.