Constans II
Constans II[b] (Greek: Κώνστας, translit. Kōnstas; 7 November 630 – 15 July 668), also called "the Bearded" (Latin: Pogonatus; Greek: ὁ Πωγωνᾶτος, translit. ho Pōgōnãtos),[c] was the Byzantine emperor from 641 to 668. Constans was the last attested emperor to serve as consul, in 642,[9][10][d] although the office continued to exist until the reign of Leo VI the Wise (r. 886–912).[13] His religious policy saw him steering a middle line in disputes between the Orthodoxy and Monothelitism by refusing to persecute either and prohibited discussion of the natures of Jesus Christ under the Type of Constans in 648. His reign coincided with Muslim invasions under, Umar, Uthman, and Mu'awiya I in the late 640s to 660s. Constans was the first emperor to visit Rome since the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476, and the last one to visit Rome while the Empire still held it.
For the Western Roman usurper, see Constans II (son of Constantine III).Constans II
November 641 – 15 July 668
September 641
David Tiberius (641)
Heraclius (659–681)
Tiberius (659–681)
Constantine IV (654–668)
Heraclius
7 November 630
Constantinople
Origins and early career[edit]
Constans was born on 7 November 630 in Constantinople, the Byzantine capital, to Gregoria and Constantine III.[14] Constantine was a son of Emperor Heraclius, while his mother Gregoria was a daughter of Nicetas, a first cousin of Heraclius.[15]
Heraclius died an February 641 and was succeeded by Constantine III and Heraclonas, his younger half-brother through Heraclius' second marriage to Martina. Constans was most likely elevated to caesar by his father to ease his succession to the throne against Martina and her sons.[16] Constantine died suddenly after 3 months of rule, leaving the 15-year old Heraclonas as senior emperor.
In September 641, the 10-year old Constans II was crowned co-emperor due to rumors that Heraclonas and Martina poisoned Constantine III. Later that same year, on or around 5 November, Heraclonas was deposed by Valentinus, one of Heraclius’ most trusted generals, and Constans II was left as sole emperor.[e] Constans owed his rise to the throne to a popular reaction against his uncle and to the protection of the soldiers led by Valentinus. Although the precocious emperor addressed the senate with a speech blaming Heraclonas and Martina for eliminating his father, he reigned under a regency of senators led by Patriarch Paul II of Constantinople. In 644, Valentinus attempted to seize power for himself, but failed.
By his wife Fausta, a daughter of the patrician Valentinus, Constans II had three sons:
![Solidus of Constans II, c. 642 (aged 12)[f]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Solidus_of_Heraclonas.png/160px-Solidus_of_Heraclonas.png)
Solidus minted c. 647 (aged 17)
Solidus minted c. 662 (aged 32) depicting Constans alongside his sons and co-emperors
