Imperial Cities Under the Sons of Constantine

In this chapter, the relationships of the emperors Constantine II, Constantius II and Constans and the cities in which they primarily resided will be examined for the full spans of their respective reigns. Analysis of these relationships will focus on instances of imperial residence in the cities of Constantinople, Antioch, Sirmium, Rome, Milan and Trier during this era, with particular attention to the significance of these cities as military centres, and as winter headquarters between campaigning seasons, as well as to major occasions of imperial ceremonial which were staged in these cities. Instances of imperial benefactions to cities will also be considered. Additionally, the relationship between emperors and the elites of these cities will be closely examined. Through this investigation, new aspects of the relationship between emperors, major imperial cities and the elite populations of these cities will be revealed, throwing fresh light on a hitherto neglected but crucial era in the development of the role and function of the Christian emperor in Late Antiquity.