Turkey / Byzantium: Constantine III (612-641), and Heraklonas (626-641), Byzantine emperors, from the book Romanorvm imperatorvm effigies: elogijs ex diuersis scriptoribus per Thomam Treteru S. Mariae Transtyberim canonicum collectis, 1583

Constantine III (612-641), birth name Heraclius Novus Constantinus, was the eldest son of Emperor Heraclius by his first wife Eudokia. He was named co-emperor in 613, and soon betrothed to his second cousin Gregoia, who he eventually married in early 630, the same year their first child, Constans II, was born.

Constantine became senior emperor in 641 after his father's death, and ruled alongside his younger half-brother, Heraklonas (626-641), son of Heraclius' second wife Martina. Constantine died from tuberculosis four months after his accession, but he had worked with his advisors and the army to ensure that his son Constans would succeed him as co-emperor.

Heraklonas, who officially reigned under the name Flavius Constantinus Heraclius, was forced to accept his young nephew as joint emperor after a revolt by the general Valentinus, a friend and associate of Constantine's. Valentinus spread rumours that Heraklonas and his mother were planning to eliminate Constans and his supporters, leading to a revolt that toppled Heraklonas and led to the mutilation and banishment of Heraklonas, his mother and his brothers. Heraklonas is presumed to have died the same year, exiled in Rhodes.

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