The last Roman consul to hold office, Constans II navigated a turbulent quarter-century as Byzantine emperor from 641 to 668. His reign was defined by the relentless expansion of the Rashidun Caliphate, persistent internal theological friction, and a strategic decision to relocate the imperial seat from Constantinople to Sicily in an attempt to stabilize the western territories.
Ascension and Early Stability
Born on 7 November 630 to Constantine III and Gregoria, Constans entered the line of succession amidst intense palace intrigue. Following the sudden death of his father and the deposition of his uncle Heraclonas in 641, the ten-year-old was crowned sole emperor. His early authority relied upon military support, specifically that of the general Valentinus, and a regency council headed by Patriarch Paul II. Despite the volatility of his youth, he asserted imperial control, famously serving as the final emperor to hold the title of Roman consul in 642.
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Constans attempted to manage deep-seated ecclesiastical divisions between Orthodox and Monothelite factions. In 648, he issued the Typos of Constans, a decree that prohibited all public debate concerning the nature of Jesus Christ. This middle-ground approach failed to quell unrest, leading to a direct confrontation with the papacy. In 653, the Exarch of Ravenna executed the Emperor's order to arrest Pope Martin I, who had openly defied the Typos during the Lateran Council of 649. The Pope was subsequently exiled to Cherson, where he died.
Military Challenges with the Caliphate
The Rashidun Caliphate exerted constant pressure on Byzantine borders throughout the 640s and 650s. After the final withdrawal from Egypt in 642, imperial forces attempted a brief, unsuccessful reclamation of Alexandria under Admiral Manuel in 645. The catastrophic defeat at the Battle of the Masts in 655, where roughly 500 ships were lost, forced the Emperor to focus on defense. Although a temporary truce was established with the governor of Syria, Mu'awiya I, in 659, the imperial military remained heavily taxed by constant raids across Armenia, Cappadocia, and the Mediterranean.
Western Migration and Death
Growing unpopularity in Constantinople and a desire to consolidate power in the west prompted Constans to move his court to Syracuse. During his relocation, he campaigned against the Slavs in Macedonia and targeted the Lombard Duchy of Benevento in 663. Despite initial attempts to secure Southern Italy, his forces suffered setbacks at Pugna and Forino. Constans remained in Sicily until his death on 15 July 668, when he was killed in his bath.
Fast facts
- Born: 7 November 630, Constantinople
- Died: 15 July 668, Syracuse
- Reign: 641–668
- Occupation: Byzantine emperor
- Last Roman consul: 642
- Wife: Fausta
- Children: Constantine IV, Heraclius, Tiberius
- Religion: Monothelitism
Questions readers ask
Why did Constans II move the capital to Syracuse?
He left Constantinople due to increasing public hostility toward his rule and a strategic need to manage western territories and the Lombard conflict.
What was the significance of the Typos of Constans?
It was a 648 imperial decree intended to end the theological conflict between Orthodoxy and Monothelitism by outlawing further public debate on the subject.
