Why Did Constantine the Great Murder his Wife and Son?

[@theicepickthatkilledtrotsk658]

It's one of the greatest mysteries of antiquity. Of all the sons of Constantine Crispus was the most like his father being a military genius in his own right.

[@huanquocmanh416]

He listened to a w*man

[@alenigmarc1239]

Spanish subtítulos please

[@Kunumbah1]

The Constantine family was really about to 3-peat with Constantius, Constantine and Crispus 🤦🏾‍♂️.

[@bfrehksdhf]

Random third theory: Constantine pulled a Cao Cao, and killed his own son and Fausta in a fit of rage, but he finds out later it was a false conspiracy planted by his enemies. Constantine didn't remove the damantio memoriae, because it would have made him look even worse. First for killing his own son and wife, and second for falling for a plot by his enemies, thus making him look weak. Better just to sweep it all under the rug.

[@Birkarl_]

Possible, sometimes the truth ends up being even more odd than any of us can imagine!

[@Lofwyr]

But why didn't Fausta's children remove the _damnatio memoriae_ after Constantine's death if she was killed unjustly?

[@alkiskosh6536]

but why his sons wouldnt remove damantio memoriae?

[@forickgrimaldus8301]

I guess its both, Crispus fell for Fausta, and planned to kill Constantine so Crispus can be Emperor and Fausta to avenge her family, Constantine found out and killed Crispus then later killed Fausta having realized she was part of the plot to kill him. Or it could be that Constantine just lost his mind

[@bfrehksdhf]

The revenge theory doesn't work, since Fausta ratted out her own father Maximian when he tried to recruit her in a plot to assassinate Constantine, who killed or forced Maximian to suicide later that year.

[@auraguard0212]

The latter was what many Renaissance thinkers believed.

[@auraguard0212]

@@bfrehksdhf actually, Constantine pardoned Maximian after Maximian's little tantrum, but suggested that he commit suicide a la Godfather 2. He later changed the story because Maxentius used Maximian's death as a convenient cause to declare war, though it's possible that Fausta fessed up after the suicide or jacked around.

[@iggyzeta9755]

Of course he lost his mind, he converted to Christianity after all.

[@huanquocmanh416]

Dovanhatty's version is the correct one

[@ImperiumPopulorum]

I love the way you tell history

[@legateelizabeth]

As an addendum, Zosimus posits that this action may have been what drove Constantine further into the arms of Christianity - seeking redemption for his kinslaying, or because the pagan priesthood refused to grant him absolution of some kind. This doesn't really add to either theory being true - kinslaying is kinslaying, no matter the reason - but it's a fun thing to think about.

[@tiagos4851]

Wouldn't that be evidence that theory 1 is right? After all, Constantine could be depressed about killing his son for no reason and wanting to redeem himself for it.

[@chideraalexanderdex547]

@@tiagos4851 yeah I think so, the man doesn't seem like the kind of person to regret killing someone if he feels right in it. It's not like Christianity made him a softer person or less violent so only a wrongful killing would realistically make him feel really bad

[@marcelosoaresdasilva2691]

He don't regret, well, perhaps in dead bed, but he is a christian in that time, more importantly, a ancient christian, so the things are different.

[@joellaz9836]

Wasn’t Constantine already a Christian by the time he killed his wife and son? Interestingly, Emperor Julian (his nephew) also tries to paint Constantine as choosing to be a Christian so he could commit as many sins as he would like (such as murder), knowing at the end that Jesus would always forgive him for everything. Although Constantine himself was bit of a prude. In oration to the saints (a speech he made which is now considered king of genuine), Constantine justifies his conversation to Christianity by also saying that the pagan Gods were incestuous and adulterous, saying: *But what shall we say of those men who represent these celestial beings as joined in incestuous union with their sister goddesses, and charge them with adultery and impurity? We declare, further, with all confidence, that the very honors and worship which these deities receive from men are accompanied by acts of wantonness and profligacy.*

[@tzardnickolasthelitromanov]

That'd be ironic, as Kinslaying was heavily looked down upon in Christianity (at least I know that it was the case in early Medieval times, admittingly in ancient times like Constantine's. I have no idea)

[@sanath9641]

the fact that his wife's children didnt repeal the edict is probably a dead giveaway that he was being cheated on .

[@alexandrejose8362]

Alternate possibility: they loved their half-brother, she causes his death and they don't forgive.

[@huanquocmanh416]

They loved their half bro more than the shitty mom lmao

[@generalcaesar3477]

Possible but unlikely. Constantius did order his troops to slaughter his uncles and cousins while Constantine II and Constans were prepared to kill each other. Ties of blood and kinship doesn’t seem to have mattered to any of them.

[@TheHarshWay]

You make history entertaining af.

[@robdenini6972]

"Ara ara..." "Owo what's this step-mom?" anyway the animated Constantine face made me crack up

[@MessiKingofKings]

I always thought that Fausta had plotted Crispus' demise considering, like you mentioned, she might have resented Constantine while being jealous of Crispus as the most talented of Constantine sons, putting her own sons with Constantine on the shadow. It'd be a nice last revenge, I imagined. But the fact that Crispus' memory was never restored is a good hint that he was no saint in the history.

[@amienabled6665]

The statue faces makes the thumbnail even more cursed.

[@christos49]

Idk whats worse. Being tricked into killing your own son or actually killing him on purpose.

[@megatronmotors221]

Usually with the suspicious familiar ties of imperial emperors "trust" wasn't a common trait. Constantine felt he couldn't trust his wife anymore. She may have hated the man. So seducing his son and outright plotting against Constantine wouldn't be surprising. It certainly wouldn't be the first bitter empress pressed into a loveless political marriage. Roman imperial family relationships were political by default and literally life death stakes. It was at times kill first before you yourself end up in your nice Roman bath with a dagger in your chest from a "loved" one.

[@Realtimehammer]

Apart from the evidence you mention about theory number one. It is also the favorite Roman go to myth, of the evil step mother plotting to get her kin on the throne. This doesnt necessarily make it false, but it's immediatly suspicious. The second one sounds plausible, doesnt require a lot of assumptions.

[@sufficientmagister9061]

So Occam's Razor ought to be used in historical events like these?

[@Wolf_Larsen]

Also makes sense as to why none of Fausta's sons ever tried to clean her name.

[@Realtimehammer]

@@sufficientmagister9061 well, with prudence I think yes, of course the problem is we have a limited amount of sources, so assumptions must always be made when we are looking back at history, in a way.

[@Realtimehammer]

@@Wolf_Larsen prolly yeah.

[@huanquocmanh416]

Dovanhatty's version

[@Sk0lzky]

Did I hear an Internet Historian cameo?

[@megaman1808]

Absolutely love these types of history documentary

[@-V-_-V-]

My question with the affair theory is why wouldn't he kill them both at the same time. But on the other hand you make a good point that if it was a false accusation why wouldn't they revoke the damnatio memoriae. Maybe there's something that we don't know.

[@falsehq1831]

How many people ever admit they were wrong?

[@alternateperson6600]

@@falsehq1831 maybe not Constantine, but why not his successors?

[@falsehq1831]

@@alternateperson6600 Because they draw a portion of their legitimacy from their predecessors. And in time, say after those 3 are gone, no one will care enough to restore the name of "some dude" edit: that's speculation tho, I simply do not know.

[@zephlodwick1009]

It's possible that undamning a person might have been too embarrassing. Maybe Constantine invented the other story just to save face.

[@g.sergiusfidenas6650]

@@alternateperson6600 Constantine's sons by Fausta were ruthless and ambitious, they killed their own uncles and cousins to keep the inheritance among themselves and later turned against each other; I doubt sentimentality would had been enough reason for them to redeem the memory of their half-brother or even of their mother and doing so would hurt the image of their father which was actually useful or even necessary to keep their hold on power. As for Julian he was not even born when Crispus died so he had no reason to feel attachment for him and honor his memory and with the end of that dynasty whomever took power next had even less reason to care about that issue.

[@zackosborn1731]

As it is with most legends and rumors of history, probably a mixture of the two. Both the affair and Fausta's plotting aren't out of the ordinary for Rome, my guess is she tried to use her own affair as leverage/revenge and it backfired.

[@forickgrimaldus8301]

Same, its not that the Affair and Plot theory necessarily contradict one another, its possible that Fausta had an affair with Crispus and then Plotted to have Constantine killed, Constantines Sons by Fausta were fairly brutal themselves so its possible.

[@alexodeh]

"Constantine, known with his short temper" If i were to be a roman emperor, i would ofc be remembered with a short temper

[@Canev821]

Maybe we’re related

[@MatthewChenault]

It could be a combination of the two. An affair that morphed into a plot against Constantine where both were complicit in trying to oust Constantine, but one (Fausta) ousted the other to try to save herself only to be found out later. It would neatly explain why Constantine went as far as he did to try to cover the entire thing up and would neatly tie the two theories together.

[@laughsatchungus1461]

Still though if it WAS an affair why kill your loving son a WEEK before killing your wife? That doesn’t make sense to me which is why I think neither of these stories are true and the real one will never be known.

[@theskyizblue2day431]

How was his son loving if his son slept with his wife? Also, opportunity and anger would explain the timetable

[@laughsatchungus1461]

@@theskyizblue2day431 other than that Constantine loved his son much more than his wife who had the blood of his defeated enemies

[@theskyizblue2day431]

@@laughsatchungus1461 ok, not disagreeing but his son banging his wife kinda changes things, no?

[@Fordo007]

True, it's possible that they were spread out to make people think they were unrelated... or it's possible they were unrelated and both did something separately to cause their deaths. Maybe Crispus did something first then Fausta panicked with her own plot or started one? She got worried for her own sons or something? Again it could be anything... we can only go off what few sources we have and try to piece together something sensible.

[@SamuelHallEngland]

He could have stayed in Britannia and avoided all that drama!

[@XXBloodyElle]

I love your animation style so much

[@JonatasAdoM]

1:15 They didn't just redact it, they've rearrange the destroyed words in stone. That's commitment.

[@cadethenderson1]

I am a knight of the Royal Order of Constantine the Great and I must say I like your historical reflection, hypothesis and convergence theory. Assuming that the references are our best asymptote to the facts, then I concur with the confluence and summary postulation, as stated in your conclusion. The collateral incest speculation seem like the likely scenario in deed. Thank you for your indulgence in this topic of research and for adopting a keen equilibrium of thought in the deliberation. You’ve earned my respect.

[@summerwell8262]

Love your production and writing style: makes the whole really funny! Congrats

[@generalaigullletes5830]

I love your videos! Please, make more vids on the late roman empire. You've done great work and I love your style of art. Thank you!

[@bigman7784]

Fun fact he was mad at Rome total war

[@SamuelHallEngland]

His faction leader tripped over the horses schlong while charging in

[@user-ll3dm9vb9h]

most of us heard that while it was a conspiracy against crispus. Constantine's wife lied about crispus raping (or attempting to seduce her) and that Helena vouched for crispus and Constantine. (realizing his mistake) decided to be exceptionally cruel in boiling her in the baths.

[@Fummy007]

Crispus: "Doin my mom, doin doin my mom"

[@jacoblinde7486]

I don't think it's that complicated. Crispus was the only one of Constantine's sons who he didn't name after himself and he always regretted that, so the ovious solution was to have Crispus killed. Don't fact check me on that.

[@herrbutterlachs1364]

Them purple stripes on his tunica. Ma man got that drip

[@Bryan21381]

Wait, crispus had a son. What happened to him after the that erasing of memory, or something like that?

[@nickpapadopoulos9978]

Yeah, i was wondering the same thing!

[@redjirachi1]

Whatever the cause, this is one of those black marks in an otherwise great person. Thomas Jefferson was in a questionably consensual relationship with his slave, Winston Churchill had some level of complicitness in the Bengal famine, and Constantine executed his own son. I don't think it cancels out their achievements, but it's a grim reminder that even great and celebrated men can do some awful things

[@DJ-1Q84]

"Condom their memories." I love your accent.

[@erti4531]

He was Albanian and this how Albanians works

[@egillskallagrimson5879]

It is a Valentinian Aettius situation, sure Constantine was a "great leader"... FOR A CHRISTIAN. But still is a case of cutting your right hand with your left. Is it me or Constantine statue has the more kawai eyes of all emperors? late antiquity statues had some anime influence.

[@marcelosoaresdasilva2691]

He is a great leader, even for the pagans who still he sponsored and helped, now seethe and dilate.

[@egillskallagrimson5879]

@@marcelosoaresdasilva2691 he was a weakling no matter what and as a pussy he betrayed all what he believe for a little of inner comfort to peace his remorse for the murder of his son. That proofs that he was an evil pussy. What kind of shit surrenders it's own convictions? At least he should have endure suffering accepted his own damnation, instead choose to hear the nonsense of the wokeism of that time.

[@shadowthehedgehog3113]

@@egillskallagrimson5879 lol at the idea of Christianity being the "wokeism" of the Roman Empire. "L*tins shouldn't say the b-word. Even in the friendly sense-like 'sup my barbarian'"

[@legateelizabeth]

He was a great Emperor. So were Justinian, Basil, Alexios, Valentinian and Majorian. The Christians don’t besmirch the names of Augustus, Aurelian or Trajan for not sharing their faith. You would do well to show them the same respect by not disrespecting those who were great Emperors and do not share yours.

[@egillskallagrimson5879]

@@shadowthehedgehog3113 You can bet that consubstantiallity of Jesus was an awkward topic then as today is "what is a woman? or can woman have a penis?"

[@settekwan2708]

He's a gamer

[@tiagos4851]

A guy having sex with his own stepmother? A CKII player for sure.

[@beybladeguru101]

@@tiagos4851 A true CK2 would have sex with his own mother, who is also his half sister, who is also his aunt.

[@mikeoxsmal8022]

@@beybladeguru101 is that even possible?

[@tiagos4851]

@@mikeoxsmal8022 Habsburgs: Yes.

[@tiagos4851]

@@beybladeguru101 Apparently, Crispus is a noob.

[@aksaraylicelali]

Your videos are getting better each time ! AVE TOMINVS MAXIMVS

[@TominusMaximus]

Thanks bro!

[@vltraviolence7640]

Constantine: "God told me to"

[@snifey7694]

Rule 5 on Emperorship: never trust stepmother.

[@auraguard0212]

Wikipedia says that Constantine did it because he could. Wikipedia is pretty sus though, so I digress.

[@shadowthehedgehog3113]

The Roman Imperial Court puts Game of Thrones to SHAME!

[@lupettoversilia]

You Are A Very Good Video Editor

[@carlyjaye7578]

I’ll bet it was an affair.. your videos are always interesting ☺️

[@takeurpills6024]

Why is Rum gone?

[@Sk0lzky]

Because sultanates aren't accepted as a form of government nowadays

[@takeurpills6024]

@@Sk0lzky But why is the Rum gone?

[@thathistoryfam794]

What this have to do with the video? Just sayin

[@СветланаМазина-ю3э]

It seems that I am one of the few who are in favor of the first version. But really, a stepmother eliminating someone else's child so that everything goes to her children is a very plausible plot. I don't believe in their love. What kind of love is it when her children are rivals for him (this deprives Crispus of the opportunity to gain sole power, like a father who did not share with his brothers), and he is a rival for her children (and indeed, if Fausta's sons killed each other in the struggle for power, how can we be sure that the elder brother would not enrolled)? Feelings are impossible in such conditions. Actually, that's why most historians reject it. Well, the fact that Konstantin did not restore the memory of his innocent son. So he just wanted to save face and didn't want to ruin his reputation. And how many stories do you know when the rulers executed someone, and then publicly admitted that they were wrong? No, of course not. It's just not necessary to consider Konstantin a saint and look at him through rose-colored glasses, then there will be no questions about the lack of rehabilitation.

[@Aniruddha0509]

I like the second theory 😂

[@ricardochirinos1382]

Tominus, do a video of the shitshow going in Scythia?

[@bellatordei3440]

A love affair would make them hate her

[@impsimp]

I love your helmet!

[@antoine.fontanille9948]

He surprised them coocking hawaian pizza (pineapple pizza), so that couldn't be forgiven!

[@legocontrollerjr]

Why not?

[@FeZe1997]

I think that you should post more

[@Aureus_]

Nice

[@AD.DOMINVM.ROMANVM]

He was a Christian Roman emperor then WHY DOES THE VIDEO HAVE 666 LIKES ??????????????????

[@silviu56nomi]

I'm guessing that by your accent you are greek ?

[@die1mayer]

aka you can do whatever the f*** you want and still be venerated as a saint in Christianity.

[@MegaTang1234]

Poor helena and unknown son, they literally. did nothing wrong.

[@ShadesApeDJansu]

Hello Emperor, may i be of use as a stool for you or shall i entertain thee by showing great courage for my Emperor in the arena ? To be real this is my stepping stone, as christian when first christian emperor kills his wife and son i suspect the devil first to corrupt first Christian Emperor. This my theory WHY it happened, HOW i came to agree with you're vision of affair

[@causantinthescot]

AVE CONSTANTIUS I MAGNUS MAXIMUS

[@calexander7495]

Romans gotta Roman.

[@no_se_nada_de_nada]

2:18 xd

[@davidcarty7584]

You mean their mother and half brother not step brother

[@wiel5908]

because its based and a sigma male rule. just kidding

[@linusdroptips660]

nah it was because he found her onlyfans

[@JonatasAdoM]

2:17 That's what you get for wearing skirts.

[@Aurelian369_]

They had bad vibes

[@elshebactm6769]

🤠👍🏿

[@ima1sthuemanonearth91]

I knew JESUS wasn't real

[@tiagos4851]

5:25 Based on skin color and accent... You're definitely from Ethiopia!!!

[@foodistgavrilo6636]

Isnt he in polish army?

[@shadowrex1968]

Constantine is a Traidor!! Long LIFE THE true GODSSS IUPITER, NEPTUNO ET HERA

[@sawtarring2108]

PЯӨMӨƧM 😝

[@luciano9755]

Pagan propaganda.