Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes ProCon History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture Money Videos
Crispus
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images
Crispus
Quizzes
Overlooking the Roman Forum with Temple of Saturn in Rome, Italy
The Roman Empire
Related Questions
Read Next
The statue of Constantine the first Christian Roman emperor. Located in York, England, UK, outside York Minster.
Major Events in the Life of Constantine I
Discover
Rural Irish landscape, Sligo, Ireland.
Why Is Ireland Two Countries?
A human Inuit skull in a stone chambered cairn in Ilulissat in Greenland. These ancient graves are pre christian and are at least 2000
14 Tough Questions Answered
Woman tied to a ducking stool, a method of punishment by means of humiliation, beating, or death. (cucking stool)
8 Unusual Punishments Inflicted on Women Throughout History
Baseball laying in the grass. Homepage blog 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society, sports and games athletics
10 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time
Close up of books. Stack of books, pile of books, literature, reading. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society
12 Novels Considered the “Greatest Book Ever Written”
An ancient egyptian hieroglyphic painted carving showing the falcon headed god Horus seated on a throne and holding a golden fly whisk. Before him are the Pharoah Seti and the goddess Isis. Interior wall of the temple to Osiris at Abydos, Egypt.
11 Egyptian Gods and Goddesses
Santa Claus flying in his sleigh, christmas, reindeer
Was Santa Claus a Real Person?
Crispus
Crispus Crispus, portrait on a Roman coin.

Crispus

Roman ruler
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Crispus
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Also known as: Flavius Julius Crispus
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Article History
Quick Facts
In full:
Flavius Julius Crispus
Born:
c. 305
Died:
326, Pola, Venetia
Also Known As:
Flavius Julius Crispus
See all related content

Crispus (born c. 305—died 326, Pola, Venetia) was the eldest son of Constantine the Great who was executed under mysterious circumstances on his father’s orders.

Crispus’s mother, Minerva (or Minervina), was divorced by Constantine in 307. Crispus received his education from the Christian writer Lactantius. On March 1, 317, Constantine gave Crispus the title of caesar and made him titular ruler of Gaul. He defeated the Franks in 320 and the Alamanni in 322 and 323. In the second war between Constantine and his co-emperor Licinius (324), Crispus commanded his father’s fleet and won an important naval victory in the Hellespont. But in 326, while accompanying Constantine to Rome to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his accession, he was put to death at Pola. Shortly afterward his stepmother, Fausta, was also executed.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.