Flavius Crispus was the eldest son of Roman emperor Constantine I, born sometime around 300 AD. He had a good military career in Gaul and against Licinius, former friend of Constantine who later turned into an enemy, in the East. He seemed like a promising figure and potential successor to Constantine, and the soldiery held him in high esteem.
However, he was suddenly executed on the orders of his own father in 326. Constantine's motivation for killing his own favorite child is mostly obscure.
Constantine, on his deathbed, divided his empire between his three remaining sons (Constans, Constantine II, and Constantius II) and a relative (Dalmatius) by his will. After he died, the empire fell to civil war, and the Constantinian dynasty quickly disappeared due to infighting.
But what if Crispus had never been executed, and inherited Constantine's empire in one whole piece, with the consent of his father?
I hear that Constantine was planning to invade Persia before he fell ill and died. Would Crispus carry out this same plan? Curiously, there was a Constantinian named Hannibalianus who, in coinage, claimed the title of King of Pontus, so could this ancient state be restored, this time with a Christian aspect? Or would he be given land further east, in Armenia or even Persia itself?
However, he was suddenly executed on the orders of his own father in 326. Constantine's motivation for killing his own favorite child is mostly obscure.
Constantine, on his deathbed, divided his empire between his three remaining sons (Constans, Constantine II, and Constantius II) and a relative (Dalmatius) by his will. After he died, the empire fell to civil war, and the Constantinian dynasty quickly disappeared due to infighting.
But what if Crispus had never been executed, and inherited Constantine's empire in one whole piece, with the consent of his father?
I hear that Constantine was planning to invade Persia before he fell ill and died. Would Crispus carry out this same plan? Curiously, there was a Constantinian named Hannibalianus who, in coinage, claimed the title of King of Pontus, so could this ancient state be restored, this time with a Christian aspect? Or would he be given land further east, in Armenia or even Persia itself?