Crispus (299/305-326) was the first-born son and initial heir to Emperor Constantine I and his first wife Minervina. When his father had to eventually put aside Minervina to marry Fausta for political reasons; he did not dismiss his son but continued to care for him and would have named Crispus his heir.

Crispus was declared as Caesar in 317; a prince of the empire; and was made commander of Gaul. He led many victorious military campaigns against the Alamanni and Franks; securing the Roman presence in Gaul and Germania. He also fought alongside his brother against the hostile Emperor Licinius; building upon his already illustrious reputation with even more outstanding victories. Crispus was loved by many; almost as admired and revered as Constantine himself.

However; in a shocking turn of events Crispus was executed on the orders of his father in 326. It is unknown what truly was the cause for such action; but the execution of Fausta only a few months later has led many historians to link the two; whether it be a conspiracy against Crispus by Fausta to ensure her own sons became heirs or; less likely; that there had been an illegitimate love affair between the two that Constantine had discovered. Either way; Crispus was killed and his name never mentioned again; deleted from all official documents and monuments.