WI Constantine doesn't execute Crispus

Constantine the great's son, Flavius Julius Crispus, was equal to his father in terms of strategic brilliance and popularity with the crowds (according to tales, he might've been even better). However, Constantine had his son executed, and his other sons did not continue his legacy of excellence. what if Crispus is not executed, and lives until his father's death? Would the empire regain its strength with two highly competent emperors in a row?
 

Philip

Donor
However, Constantine had his son executed, and his other sons did not continue his legacy of excellence. what if Crispus is not executed, and lives until his father's death? Would the empire regain its strength with two highly competent emperors in a row?

I'm not sure that Constantine would designate Crispus as the sole successor or that a peaceful transition is assured. Aren't such concerns one of the theories as to why he was executed?
 
I wouldn’t go as far as to say Crispus was as good as his father, let alone better. There’s no way we could genuinely know that. If Crispus doesn’t die, Constantine simply splits the empire in five and not in four for the succession, and, once he’s death, civil strife and quarrels are bound to happen once again. Would Crispus prevail? Who knows, Constaninte II and Constans might have not been that much, but Constantius II was a shrewd politician himself, he still stands a good chance to win in this ATL.
 
I'm not sure that Constantine would designate Crispus as the sole successor or that a peaceful transition is assured. Aren't such concerns one of the theories as to why he was executed?

Whatever the reasons, Crispus had clearly become a nuisance somehow. He could have threatened to dismantle the system Constantine attempted to create, which collapsed anyway at his death.
 
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