Constantius: York’s Forgotten Emperor
New Exhibition at the Yorkshire Museum in York
July 16 – October 9 2016
The life of the Roman emperor who reconquered Britain and briefly made York one of the centres of the Roman World will be told at the Yorkshire Museum this summer.
http://www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk/news-media/latest-news/constantius-spotlight-exhibition-featuring-beaurains-hoard-to-open-at-yorkshire-museum/ …
The new Spotlight exhibition will feature coins from the Beaurains Hoard on loan from the British Museum, including the famous medallions, some of the largest Roman gold coins to survive. These show the emperor raising Britannia from her knees.
The Spotlight exhibition will also feature the Wold Newton Hoard and artefacts from the Yorkshire Museum’s collections.
Andrew Woods, curator of numismatics, said:
“Constantius is York’s forgotten emperor – however his life and death had a huge effect on the Roman Empire and York’s place in it.
“During his lifetime, the emperor visited Britain several times – reconquering it from rebellious generals and fighting North of Hadrian’s wall against the Picts. He made his reputation in Britannia and also died here. The time he spent in the province brought wealth and exotic connections from distant parts of a vast empire.
“His greatest legacy was his son, Constantine the Great, who was proclaimed emperor in York following his father’s death. Constantine strengthened his family’s power, defeated his rivals and transformed the empire forever through the acceptance of Christianity. The events of 306 placed York at the heart of events which would re-shape European history for centuries to come.â€
