CONSTANTINE II (Flavius Claudius Constantinus), EMPEROR. – Son of Constantine the Great and Fausta, born at Arles in February 317, died at Aquileia on 9 April 340. Even as a child he held the consulship four times; in 332 he took part victoriously in the struggle against the Goths, whom he defeated on 20 April, and shortly afterwards against the Sarmatians. At the death of his father (337) he received the title of Augustus, like his brothers, and the provinces of Gaul, Spain and Britain.
He practically governed the West from 337 to 340, since his brother Constantius had only the title of Augustus. On 17 June 337, Constantine II allowed Athanasius to return to his patriarchal see at Alexandria and wrote a letter to the faithful of that Church. He extended this favour also to the other Catholic prelates who enjoyed his full protection. In 340 he marched into Italy against his brother Constantius, but fell victim to an ambush laid by the latter’s officers and was killed at the age of 23.