Fausta (d. 324)

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Fausta (d. 324)

Byzantine and Roman empress. Name variations: Flavia. Born Flavia Maxima Fausta; died 324 (some sources cite 326); dau. of Maximian, senior emperor (Augustus) of the Roman West (r. 285/286–305), and Eutropia; sister of Maxentius and Theodora (fl. 290s); m. Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus Magnus, known as Constantine I the Great (285–337), Roman emperor (r. 306–337, the 1st Christian emperor of the Roman Empire, who founded Constantinople), in 307; children: Constantine II (b. 317); Constantius II (b. 323), Roman emperor (r. 337–361); Constans (b. 324); Constantina (c. 321–c. 354); Helena (c. 320–?, who m. Julian, Byzantine emperor).

Married Constantine the Great, a union meant to cement the Western Augusti (307), the triumvirate of her husband Constantine, brother Maxentius, and father Maximian; in separate incidents, her father and brother plotted the overthrow of Constantine and were killed (309 and 312, respectively); elevated to the status of Augusta (Empress); during another personal upheaval which marred imperial peace, was accused of high treason, arrested, and put to death (another source maintains that she was charged with adultery because of a liaison with a palace official).

See also Women in World History.