Constantius Gallus - Youth

Youth

Gallus was born in Massa Veternensis, Italia, after his father had been recalled from exile. Gallus' father and his elder brother were amongst those killed during the purges that occurred in the imperial family after the death of Constantine I in 337. Gallus himself was one of the only imperial males, outside of the three sons of Constantine I and Fausta, who were not killed; the others being Gallus' younger half-brother, Julian, and their cousin, Nepotian, each of whom was very young at the time.

There is debate over where Gallus spent his youth. One view is that he lived with Julian in Nicomedia under the care of Eusebius, who was the bishop of Nicomedia until 340. At which point, Eusebius was made bishop of Constantinople, which necessitated Gallus and Julian to follow him to that city. It is believed that after the death of Eusebius in 341, Constantius then sent Gallus and Julian to continue their studies at the imperial household in Macellum, Cappadocia. An alternative view claims that hints in the sources suggest that Gallus was sent to Ephesus to study, then to a type of exile in Tralles and from there to the imperial household in Macellum.