Constantius Chlorus (31 March 250-25 July 306) was Roman emperor from 1 May to 25 July 306, succeeding Maximian and preceding Galerius. He was the father of Constantine the Great, and he was one of Diocletian's tetrarchs.
Biography[]
Constantius Chlorus was born on 31 March 250 in the Roman province of Dardania (Bulgaria), the son of nobleman Eutropius and a niece of Claudius Gothicus. He fought the Palmyrene Empire as a soldier under Aurelian, and he became Governor of Dalmatia under Roman emperor Carus. In 284, he became loyal to Diocletian after the Battle of the Margus, and he was made one of the tetrarchs of the Roman Empire in 293 after taking part in Diocletian's campaign against the Alemanni. Constantius assisted tetrarch Maximian in putting down the usurper Carausius and his successor Allectus in 296, reconquering Gaul and Britannia for the empire. In 298, he defeated the Alemanni at Lingones (near Langres, France), and he took power from Maximian in May 306 after the abdication of Diocletian led to the tetrarchs competing for power. He invaded Britannia in 306 and defeated the Picts on 7 January 306, gaining the title "Britannicus Maximus". Constantius fell ill and died at Eburacum (York, England) on 25 July 306. His son Constantine the Great would later become emperor after winning the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312.