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Licinius II ‘Junior’ – Roman Caesar: 317-324 A.D.
Bronze AE3 17mm (3.2 grams) Heraclea mint, struck 318-320 A.D.
Reference: RIC VII 49; Sear 15422
D N VAL LICIN LICINIVS NOB C, laureate, mantled bust right, holding globe, sceptre and mappa. PROVIDENTIAE CAESS / Λ/SMHΓ, campgate with three turrets and no door.
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 A military camp or bivouac is a semi-permanent facility for the lodging of an army. Camps are erected when a military force travels away from a major installation or fort during training or operations, and often have the form of large campsites. In the Roman era the military camp had highly stylized parameters and served an entire legion. Archaeological investigations have revealed many details of these Roman camps at sites such as Vindolanda (England) and Raedykes (Scotland).
 The Latin word castra , with its singular castrum, was used by the ancient Romans to mean buildings or plots of land reserved to or constructed for use as a military defensive position. The word appears in both Oscan and Umbrian (dialects of Italic) as well as in Latin. In classical Latin the word castra always means “great legionary encampment”, both “marching”, “temporary” ones and the “fortified permanent” ones, while the diminutive form castellum was used for the smaller forts, which were usually, but not always, occupied by the auxiliary units and used as logistic bases for the legions, as explained by Vegetius. A generic term is praesidium (“guard post or garrison”). The terms stratopedon (“army camp”) and phrourion (“fort”) were used by Greek language authors, in order to designate the Roman castra and the Roman castellum respectively. In English, the terms “Roman fortress”, “Roman fort” and “Roman camp” are commonly used for the castra. However the scholars’ convention always requires the use of the word “camp”, “marching camp” and “fortress” as a translation of castra and the use of the word “fort” as a translation of castellum and this type of convention is usually followed and found in all the scholarly works.
Valerius Licinianus Licinius, Licinius II or Licinius the Younger (approx. 315-326), was the son of Roman emperor Licinius. He nominally served as Caesar in the eastern empire from 317 to 324 A.D while his father was Augustus. His mother was Licinius’ wife Flavia Julia Constantia, who was also the half-sister of Constantine I.
After his defeat by Constantine at the Battle of Chrysopolis, Licinius the elder was initially spared and placed in captivity at Thessalonica. However, within a year Constantine seems to have regretted his leniency and the former Emperor was hanged.
The younger Licinius, who was Constantine’s nephew, also fell victim to the emperor’s suspicions and was killed, probably in the context of the execution of Crispus in 326.
Other reports relate that Licinius the younger was forced into slavery in the imperial textile factories in Africa, where he is noted in 336. However, the imperial rescript of 336 makes it clear that the “son of Licinianus” referred to was not Licinius II as it directs that he be reduced to the slave status of his birth. No son of Constantine’s sister would have been referred to in this manner.
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