Born in 317 CE, Constantius II ruled the Roman empire from 337 CE until his death in 361 CE. He shared rule with his brothers until 353, and was the sole ruler until 361. When his father (Constantine the Great) died on May 22, 337, Constantius II allegedly ordered his troops to kill many of his family members to assert his power. He spent much of his time as ruler fighting against the Persian King Shapur II. He also crushed various rebellions in the European part of the empire. After becoming sole ruler in 353, Constantius II sought to make Christianity the official religion of the empire and began to persecute pagans. However, this religious unity did not last long after his death in 361.
The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. 2020. “Constantius II.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Last updated October 30, 2020. Accessed December 15, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Constantius-II.