Constans

Family: Britons · Role: monk and eldest son of Constantine · First appears: Book VI 4–6

In Book VI 4–6, Constans is the eldest of the three sons born to Constantine, alongside Aurelius Ambrosius and Uther Pendragon. At Winchester, Constantine delivered him to the church of Amphibalus, where he entered the monastic order. Then Vortigern removed him from monastic life, dressed him in royal garments, took him to London, and made him king, though not with the free consent of the people.

In Book VI 7–9, Constans entrusted the entire government of the kingdom to Vortigern, surrendering himself so completely to his counsels that he did nothing without his order. Vortigern then recommended sending Pictish soldiers to serve Constans, knowing they might be turned against him; “After this, breaking into Constans' bed-chamber, they fell upon him and killed him.”

Relationship record

Life events

• Constantine fathers three sons: Constans, Aurelius Ambrosius, and Uther Pendragon.(Book VI 4–6)
  • With: Constantine, brother of Aldroen Aurelius Ambrosius Uther Pendragon
  • “and by whom the king had afterwards three sons, Constans, Aurelius Ambrosius, and Uther Pendragon.”
• Constans enters the monastic order at the church of Amphibalus.(Book VI 4–6 · 📍 Winchester)
  • “Constans, who was the eldest, he delivered to the church of Amphibalus in Winchester, that he might there take upon him the monastic order.”
• Vortigern removes Constans from monastic life and makes him king.(Book VI 4–6 · 📍 London)
  • With: Vortigern
  • “Then Vortigern took him, and investing him in his regal habiliments, conducted him to London, and made him king”
• Constans entrusted the kingdom’s government entirely to Vortigern.(Book VI 7–9)
  • With: Vortigern
  • “Constans, being thus advanced, committed the whole government of the kingdom to Vortigern”
• Constans was assassinated in his bed-chamber by the Pictish soldiers.(Book VI 7–9 · 📍 London)
  • “After this, breaking into Constans' bed-chamber, they fell upon him and killed him”

Book VI 4–6

• parent: Constantine, brother of Aldroen “They also married him to a lady, descended from a noble Roman family, whom archbishop Guethelin had educated, and by whom the king had afterwards three sons, Constans, Aurelius Ambrosius, and Uther Pendragon.”
• siblings with Aurelius Ambrosius “They also married him to a lady, descended from a noble Roman family, whom archbishop Guethelin had educated, and by whom the king had afterwards three sons, Constans, Aurelius Ambrosius, and Uther Pendragon.”
• siblings with Uther Pendragon “They also married him to a lady, descended from a noble Roman family, whom archbishop Guethelin had educated, and by whom the king had afterwards three sons, Constans, Aurelius Ambrosius, and Uther Pendragon.”
• with Vortigern (Vortigern installed Constans as king.) “Then Vortigern took him, and investing him in his regal habiliments, conducted him to London, and made him king, though not with the free consent of the people.”

Book VI 7–9

• enemies with Vortigern “This was the dark treason of a secret enemy; for he did not recommend this out of regard to the safety of Constans, but because he knew the Picts to be a giddy people, and ready for all manner of wickedness; so that, in a fit of drunkenness or passion, they might easily be incensed against the king, and make no scruple to assassinate him.”
• siblings with Uther Pendragon “And as for his two brothers, Uther Pendragon and Aurelius Ambrosius, they were only children in their cradles, and therefore incapable of the government.”
• siblings with Aurelius Ambrosius “And as for his two brothers, Uther Pendragon and Aurelius Ambrosius, they were only children in their cradles, and therefore incapable of the government.”
• with Vortigern (Vortigern was entrusted with governing the kingdom under Constans, but later plotted to depose him.) “Constans, being thus advanced, committed the whole government of the kingdom to Vortigern, and surrendered himself up so entirely to his counsels, that he did nothing without his order.”

Book VIII 1–4

• siblings with Aurelius Ambrosius “afterwards my brother Constans whom he made king on purpose to destroy him”
• enemies with Vortigern “afterwards my brother Constans whom he made king on purpose to destroy him”
• parent: Constantine, brother of Aldroen “First he betrayed my father Constantine, who had delivered him and his country from the inroads of the Picts; afterwards my brother Constans whom he made king on purpose to destroy him.”

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Extracted from the original text of The History of the Kings of Britain. Made with Rho MD.