Constantine III was a Roman general who proclaimed himself Western Roman Emperor in 407. He reigned from 407 and was abdicated in 411, where he was captured and executed shortly afterwards. He was a regular soldier in the garrison of Britain who came to power during the tumultuous times following the mutiny against the rule of Honorius.
He attempted to conquor Italy, however in his attempt to overthrow the city against Honorius (who was the Roman Emperor at the time), he was forced to resign as emperor and had himself ordained as a priest, hoping this might save his life. However, as the city fell, he was captured and sent back to Ravenna were Honorius had him executed.
A recent article here on Heritage Key by Bija Knowles looked at Roman sites across the South East of France. There are many sites across the area which remain today as relics to the Roman past, the empire having controlled the area as early as 125BC.
The map shows the triangle area between the towns of Nimes, Arles and Orange where many of the heritage sites reside, but also includes Lyon which also has many notable Roman settlement relics.
Using this interactive map, you can see the exact locations of these sites, and easily plan your (real or fantasy) trip through Roman France.
The Maison Carrée (Square House) was built during the rule of Augustus between 16 and 5 BC and is located in the heart of Nîmes. It was dedicated to Lucius Caesar and Gaius Julius Caesar, adopted heirs of Augustus who both died prematurely. It was built on the same model as the Temple of Apollo in Rome and is now the best-preserved Roman temple in western Europe. It owes its preservation to the fact that it was consecrated as a Christian church in the fourth century AD, saving it from the fate of other Roman temples, which have been dismantled for their stone.
The cryptoporticus of Arles was built during the first century BC as a foundation for the forum at the centre of the Roman town. The forum has been replaced by two modern buildings: the Chapel of the Jesuit College and the City Hall. The cryptoporticus consists of three double, parallel tunnels arranged in a 'U' shpae, which are supported by fifty pillars. It was probably the work of Greeks living in Marseille at the time – this is suggested by stonemasons' marks at the site. There are similar structures at Reims, Narbonne and Bavay.
The Arles Amphitheatre was built in the first century BC. Its oval shape is 136m by 109m with two rows of 60 arches with a capacity for over 20,000 spectators. The main entertainment provided there were chariot races, and gladiatorial battles. Today it is still used for events including summer plays, concerts and even bullfighting.
When the Romans left Gaul in the fifth century, Arles's amphitheatre became used as a public shelter. It was eventually also used as a fortress and four towers were added to it. People started to build houses inside the arena – there were 200 at one point, as well as two chapels. By the late eighteenth century, its residential use was discouraged and in 1826 there was an expropriation of the houses built inside – this was instigated by the writer Prosper Mérimée at a time when there was increasing awareness of the value of antiquity and Roman monuments.
The Roman Theatre of Arles was constructed in the age of the emperor Augustus, at the end of the first century BC. It measures 102m in diameter, with 33 semi-circular rings of stone seats, most of which are lost today. Its exterior had three layers of arcades. The only remaining part of the stage wall are two tall marble columns. The stage background was originally highly decorated, with one of the statues found there currently on display at the museum of Arles. The theatre could contain up to 10,000 spectators. In the Middle Ages, the theatre was largely destroyed and its stone used to construct new buildings in the town.
Submitted by Bija Knowles on Mon, 08/10/2009 - 10:08
If you were planning on including a bit of Roman heritage in your Summer travel plans, then it's worth bearing in mind that you don't have to make the trip all the way to Rome to see something as impressive as the Colosseum. South eastern France was annexed by the Romans as early as 125 BC and the region is rich with a wide variety of monuments dating from the empire that brought it aqueducts, villas, wine and roads more than 2,000 years ago. Here is a look at some of the main Roman heritage sites to discover in the region, most of them within a triangle formed by the three towns of Orange, Nîmes and Arles, although the area of Lyon to the north is also rich in Roman culture.
The Roman town of Arleate covered an area of nearly 100 acres and was a centre of trade and industry. The ancient town was closer to the sea than the modern town is and, following the Roman occupation, was linked to the Mediterranean with a canal, making the city a bustling port. The town possessed lots of amenities and monuments, many of which are still in evidence today. One of the most unusual was a floating bridge to the south of the city, which was made up of a series of boats lashed together and was a means of coping with the area's frequent flooding. A modern bridge now stands near the site of this piece of Roman ingenuity today.
A recent article here on Heritage Key by Bija Knowles looked at 
