Empress Fausta Death: The Palace Scandal of AD 326

The Empress Fausta death occurred in AD 326 inside Constantine the Great’s imperial court.

Many historians consider the Empress Fausta death one of the most controversial events of the Constantinian era.

Ancient sources suggest her death followed accusations involving Crispus, Constantine’s eldest son. The episode remains one of the most controversial events in Constantinian history.

Politics shaped the outcome.

History remembers the scandal.

Who Was Empress Fausta?

Flavia Maxima Fausta was born around AD 289 into one of Rome’s most powerful families.

She was:

• Daughter of Maximian, a tetrarchic emperor

• Sister of Maxentius, Rome’s last pagan ruler

• Wife of Constantine the Great (married AD 307)

• Mother of Constantine II, Constantius II, and Constans

Elevated to Augusta around AD 313–314, Fausta became a central figure in Constantine’s emerging Christian dynasty.

Her bronze coins reflect this status, bearing the legend FLAV MAX FAVSTA AVG and depicting themes of maternity, peace, and imperial continuity.

The Palace Scandal of AD 326

The Empress Fausta death occurred the same year Crispus, Constantine’s son from a previous marriage, was executed.

Ancient writers such as Zosimus and later Christian historians suggest Constantine ordered Fausta’s execution after allegations of scandal.

Possible explanations include:

• Accusations of adultery with Crispus

• Political intrigue involving succession

• False charges designed to protect her sons

• Personal retaliation

Timeline:

• July 326: Crispus executed in Pola (modern Croatia)

• Weeks later: Fausta reportedly killed in an overheated bath

Both individuals appear to have suffered forms of damnatio memoriae, though Fausta’s memory was partially preserved due to her sons’ imperial legitimacy.

Ancient Sources on the Empress Fausta Death

The historical record is fragmented.

Zosimus presents one version of events. Eusebius, writing in a Christian framework, avoids explicit accusations.

No contemporary court transcript survives.

As a result, the Empress Fausta death remains a mystery debated by historians and numismatists alike.

Coins of Empress Fausta

Fausta’s bronze coins were minted between approximately AD 312 and 326 at mints such as Trier, Rome, and Lyons.

Common characteristics include:

• Draped imperial bust

• Maternal iconography (Venus, Salus, Peace holding child)

• AE3 and AE4 bronze denominations

These coins circulated during a pivotal transition in Roman religious and political history.

Graded examples today show natural circulation wear from the very years surrounding the palace scandal.

Why Fausta’s Coins Matter Today

The survival of Fausta’s coinage is remarkable.

Despite attempts to diminish her legacy, her coins document:

• The final years of the Tetrarchic system

• The consolidation of Constantine’s dynasty

• The transition from pagan imperial imagery to Christian imperial motherhood

Because female imperial issues were already less common than those of emperors, examples tied to a figure erased from official memory hold particular numismatic significance.

Empress Fausta Coins at Kinzer Coins

At Kinzer Coins, we curate authenticated Constantinian bronzes that illuminate this dramatic chapter of Roman history.

Collectors new to the period can also explore our New to Ancients guide for background on grading, dynasty timelines, and attribution.

View the History’s Mysteries: Empress Fausta album to study genuine pieces connected to this extraordinary moment in imperial history.

If you have questions about authenticity or collecting, feel free to contact our team directly.