Faustina (empress)
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Faustina was the Empress of Rome and third wife of Emperor Constantius II.
Her biography is known from the account of historian Ammianus Marcellinus. Constantius married her after the death of his second wife, Eusebia in 360. She was pregnant when Constantius died on October 5, 361 and later gave birth to their posthumus daughter, Flavia Maxima Constantia, the only child of the emperor. Constantia later married Emperor Gratian.
On September 28, 365 Faustina was present when Procopius received the insignia of the imperial rites in Constantinople. Faustina and her little daughter's presence suggested that Procopius was the rightful heir of the Constantinian dynasty which was still held in reverence.
Ammianus Marcellinus tells that Procopius "always bore with him on a litter the little daughter of Constantius, with her mother Faustina, both when marching and when preparing for battle, thus exciting the soldiers to fight more resolutely for the imperial family, with which, as he told them, he himself was connected."[1]
After the Battle of Thyatira and the fall of Procopius in 366, Faustina passes out of sight.
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| Preceded by Eusebia |
Empress of Rome 360–361 |
Succeeded by Marina Severa |
