Constantina (empress)

Caesar's daughter

Tiberius was appointed caesar by Justin II on 7 December 574, after Justin suffered from temporary fits of insanity. Sophia, Justin's wife, had recommended Tiberius as caesar and reportedly planned to marry him herself.

Ino, Tiberius's wife, and her daughters Constantina and Charito were kept from the Great Palace and settled in the palace of Hormisdas. Sophia prevented court ladies from visiting them. Ino eventually left Constantinople for Daphnudium, and her daughters are assumed to have joined her.

Daughter of emperor

Tiberius became sole emperor on 5 October 578. Sophia tried to persuade him to divorce Ino, offering herself and her daughter Arabia as brides, but he refused.

Fearing for their safety, Tiberius had Ino and her daughters secretly brought to Constantinople by boat. Ino was proclaimed empress and augusta, while Sophia retained her rank. Tiberius fell ill in 582, and Sophia chose Maurice as his successor.

Marriage

On 5 August 582, Constantina was betrothed to Maurice, and her sister Charito to Germanus. Both men were named Caesars. Constantina received the name Constantina in addition to her birth name Augusta.

Tiberius died on 14 August, and Maurice became emperor with Constantina as his betrothed. The marriage took place in autumn 582, performed by Patriarch John IV. Constantina was proclaimed augusta alongside Sophia and Anastasia.

Deposition and death

During the mutiny of the Danubian army in November 602, Maurice, Constantina, and their children fled Constantinople by warship. They were captured near Nicomedia and taken to Chalcedon. On 27 November, all five sons and Maurice were executed. Constantina survived as a widow.

In 603, she and her three daughters were exiled to the House of Leo monastery. Constantina conspired with Germanus after rumors of her son Theodosius's survival, but a maidservant reported them. Constantina was arrested, tortured, and executed at Chalcedon with her three daughters. The Patria of Constantinople says she was decapitated and thrown into the Bosporus, while De Ceremoniis records burial at the monastery of St. Mamas.

Did You Know?

• She had an older sister named Charito and another sibling presumed to have died.
• The Georgian Chronicle mistakenly identifies Constantina as a daughter of Khosrau II.