CONSTANS II. (FLAVIUS HERACLIUS) emperor of the East from 641 to 668, was the son of Constantine III. and Gregoria and was born on Nov. 7, 63o. He succeeded, after an interval due to the usurpation of Heracleonas, in 641, with Valentine as regent. His reign is notable for disasters at the hands of the Arabs and the Lombards. He fitted out an expedi tion to recover Egypt then occupied by the Arabs and tried to get assistance from China. The only result was that the Arabs at tacked Greek North Africa, and while he was engaged there, Mu Awijah took Syria and Cyprus and ravaged Cilicia. In 651 the Arabs extended their hold on Sicily and captured Rhodes. In the loss of the sea fight off Lycia endangered Constantinople itself, but Constans profited by the internal dissensions of the Arabs and won some successes on the Danube. The Lombards invaded north Italy at the beginning of his reign. Constans decided to turn them out, and made the last recorded attempt to re-establish Rome as the centre of the united empire. He left for Italy in 662 and at first was successful, but then failed and went to live in Syracuse. Africa now revolted under a new tribute and was lost, and the reign closes with further losses in Italy and the Greek provinces. Constans died mysteriously in his bath at Syracuse on July 15, 668.
The reign is also notable for heretical disturbances, and an edict of Consta gs, the Typus, prohibits all religious discussion. In the exarch Calliopas captured the pope.
See Zonaras ii. 87.