Flavius Valerius Constantius "Chlorus" ("the Pale") was born ca.250 of an Illyrian family. He served in the military, and in the early 270's began a relationship with Helena, probably in concubinage. Out of this relationship the future emperor Constantine was born.

He rose through the military, and by 288 was the Praetorian Prefect under Maximian. At the formation of the Tetrarchy on 1 March 293 both Diocletian and Maximian appointed their Prefects as Caesars, with Constantius ruling from Treveri. As part of this arrangement, Constantius put aside Helena to marry Theodora, and they ended up having 6 children.

One of Constantius' first duties was to overthrow the usurper Carausius, a former naval commander who had siezed Britain and parts of Gaul. He quickly rid Gaul of Carausius' troops, and by 296 invaded Britian and crushed the revolt, by now under Allectus. He spent the next several years campaigning against Germanic tribes.

On 1 May 305 Diocletian and Maximianus retired, with the caesars moving up in rank. Constantius crossed back to Britain to campaign against the Picts, and died from an illness at York on 25 July 306. Against the Tetrarchy system, the troops appointed his son Constantine as the next Augustus.

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