Crispus - Votive V

Gil-galad · Jun 2, 2013

Crispus AE3. 320-321 AD. Siscia mint, 3.4g, 19mm

OBV: IVL CRISPVS NOB C. Laureate head right.

REV: CAESARVM NOSTRORVM around laurel wreath containing VOT V, ASIS star in ex.

REF: RIC VII Siscia 161

This is my second Crispus reverse and in slightly better condition. My other Crispus Campgate has a pleasing Syrian red color but is really worn.

Wikipedia copy and paste history

Flavius Julius Crispus (died 326), also known as Flavius Claudius Crispus and Flavius Valerius Crispus, was a Caesar of the Roman Empire. He was the first-born son of Constantine I and Minervina.

In 326, Crispus' life came to a sudden end: on his father's orders, he was tried by a local court at Pola, Istria, condemned to death and executed. Soon afterwards, Constantine had his own wife, Fausta, killed; she was suffocated in an over-heated bath.

The reason for this act remains unclear and historians have long debated Constantine's motivation. Zosimus in the 5th century and Joannes Zonaras in the 12th century both reported that Fausta, stepmother of Crispus, was extremely jealous of him. She was reportedly afraid that Constantine would put aside the sons she bore him. So, in order to get rid of Crispus, Fausta set him up. She reportedly told the young Caesar that she was in love with him and suggested an illegitimate love affair. Crispus denied the immoral wishes of Fausta and left the palace in a state of a shock. Then Fausta said to Constantine that Crispus had no respect for his father, since the Caesar was in love with his father's own wife. She reported to Constantine that she dismissed him after his attempt to rape her. Constantine believed her and, true to his strong personality and short temper, executed his beloved son. A few months later, Constantine reportedly found out the whole truth and then killed Fausta.

This version of events has become the most widely accepted, since all other reports are even less satisfactory. That Fausta and Crispus could have plotted treason against Constantine is rejected by most historians, as they would have nothing to gain considering their positions as favourites of Constantine. In any case, such a case would not have been tried by a local court as Crispus' case clearly was. Another view suggests that Constantine killed Crispus because as a supposedly illegitimate son, he would cause a crisis in the order of succession to the throne. However, Constantine had kept him at his side for twenty years without any such decision. Constantine also had the authority to appoint his younger, legitimate sons as his heirs. Some reports claimed that Constantine was envious of the success of his son and afraid of him. This seems improbable, given that Constantine had twenty years of experience as emperor while Crispus was still a young Caesar. Similarly, there seems to be no evidence that Crispus had any ambitions to harm or displace his father.

So while the story of Zosimus and Zonaras seems the most believable one, there are also problems relating to their version of events. Constantine's reaction suggests that he suspected Crispus of a crime so terrible that death was not enough. Crispus also suffered damnatio memoriae, meaning his name was never mentioned again and was deleted from all official documents and monuments. Crispus, his wife Helena and their son were never to be mentioned again in historical records. The eventual fate of Helena and her son is a mystery. Constantine did not restore his son's innocence and name, as he probably would have on learning of his son's innocence. Perhaps Constantine's pride, or shame at having executed his son, prevented him from publicly admitting having made a mistake.

It is beyond doubt that there was a connection between the deaths of Crispus and Fausta. Such agreement among different sources connecting two deaths is extremely rare in itself. A number of modern historians have suggested that Crispus and Fausta really did have an illegitimate affair. When Constantine found out, his reaction was to have both of them killed. What delayed the death of Fausta may have been a pregnancy. Since the years of birth for the two known daughters of Constantine and Fausta remain unknown, one of their births may have delayed their mother's execution.

The story of Zosimus and Zonaras listed above is suspiciously similar to both the legend of Hippolytus of Athens (casting Crispus in the role of the youth, Constantine in the role of Theseus and Fausta in the role of Phaedra) as well as the Biblical account of Joseph and Potiphar's wife.
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Bing · Jun 2, 2013

Very pleasing coin.

Eng · Jun 2, 2013

GG, very nice looking coin, great details, :thumb:

stevex6 · Jun 3, 2013

Once again, another great lookin' coin, brother Gil ...

Ummmm, apparently being sick didn't prevent you from buying ancient coins!! (thank God)

:yes:

chrsmat71 · Jun 4, 2013

holy smokes man, i can't keep up with all the coins you're posting......not that that's a bad thing!

nice crispus!

HoldingHistory · Jun 5, 2013

Congrats

Nathan
www.RomanCoinAuctions.com

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Crispus - Votive V

Gil-galad I AM SPARTACUS

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Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

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Crispus - Votive V

Gil-galad I AM SPARTACUS

Guest User Guest

Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

Eng Senior Eng

stevex6 Random Mayhem

chrsmat71 I LIKE TURTLES!

HoldingHistory Active Member

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