Constantine III of the Byzantine Empire
Heraclius Constantine, or
Constantine III, was the eldest son of the
Byzantine emperor Heraclius and his first wife Eudocia, born
May 3,
612. He was also the older half-brother of
Heraclonas, the son of Heraclius' second wife Martina. For political reasons, Heraclius considered Martina to be mother of them both. Constantine became emperor when Heraclius died in
641, and during his reign the
Arabs conquered
Egypt. He died of
tuberculosis after only four months, leaving Heraclonas sole emperor; a rumor that Martina had him poisoned led to political unrest during Heraclonas' reign.