A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

called NOVUS CONSTANTI'NUS, emperor of the East,A. D. 641, the son of the emperor Heraclius by his first wife, Eudoxia, was born in May, 612, and succeeded his father on the 11th of March (February), 641, together with his younger half-brother Heracleonas, the succession being thus established by the testament of their father. Constantine died as early as the 22nd of June (25th of May) A. D. 641, after a reign of 103 days, either from ill-health, or probably from poison administered to him by his step-mother Martina. His successor was his brother Heracleonas. [HERACLEONAS ; CONSTANS II.] Constantine distinguished himself personally in a war against the Persians. Advised by his rapacious treasurer, Philagrius, he sacrilegiously ordered the grave of his father to be robbed of a golden crown of seventy pounds' weight, which stuck so fast to the head of the dead emperor, that the corpse was mutilated in removing the crown from it. (Theophan. pp. 251, 275, &c., ed. Paris; Cedren. p. 430, &c., ed. Paris; Zonar. vol. ii. pp. 71, 87, &c., ed. Paris ; Glycas, p. 276, ed. Paris.)

[W.P]