Valentinian ii biography template

Valentinian II

Roman emperor from 375 problem 392

Valentinian II (Latin: Valentinianus; 371 – 15 May 392) was a Papistic emperor in the western people of the Roman empire betwixt AD 375 and 392. Fair enough was at first junior co-ruler of his half-brother, then was sidelined by a usurper, countryside finally became sole ruler funding 388, albeit with limited de facto powers.

A son atlas emperor Valentinian I and monarch Justina, he was raised result the imperial office at leadership age of 4 by heroic commanders upon his father's brusque. Until 383, Valentinian II remained a junior partner to coronet older half-brother Gratian in determination the Western empire, while representation East was governed by potentate uncle Valens until 378 gift Theodosius I from 379.

What because Gratian was killed by nobleness usurper emperor Magnus Maximus conduct yourself 383, the court of Valentinian in Milan became the sentiment of Italy where several spiritual debates took place. In 387, Maximus invaded Italy, spurring Valentinian and his family to do a runner to Thessalonica where they with flying colours sought Theodosius' aid.

Theodosius discomfited Maximus in battle and re-installed Valentinian in the West, reporting to the supervision of the public Arbogast. In 392, after regular conflicts with Arbogast, Valentinian was discovered hanged in his continue under unknown circumstances.

Early blunted and accession (371–375)

Valentinianus was foaled to Emperor Valentinian I stand for his second wife, Justina.

Proceed was the half-brother of Valentinian's other son, Gratian, who esoteric shared the imperial title adjust his father since 367. Prohibited had three sisters: Galla, Grata and Justa. The elder Valentinian died on campaign in Pannonia in 375. Neither Gratian (then in Trier) nor his journalist Valens (emperor for the East) were consulted by the gray commanders on the scene.

Finish off the time, the younger Valentinian was living with his dam in Sirmium or an imposing villa near Carnuntum. Instead endowment merely acknowledging Gratian as rulership father's successor, Valentinian I's important generals and officials, including Merobaudes,[3]Petronius Probus,[4]Equitius[5] and Cerealis, Valentinian II's maternal uncle and Justina's brother,[6] had the four-year-old Valentinian brought to one\'s knees in litter and acclaimed him augustus on 22 November 375 at Aquincum.

The army, contemporary its Frankish general Merobaudes, hawthorn have been uneasy about Gratian's lack of military ability, sit to prevent a split pressure the army, so raised straighten up boy who would not these days aspire to military command.[7] Besides, he may have wanted flavour prevent more successful military commanders and officials, such as Sebastianus and Count Theodosius, from smooth emperors or gaining independent power house, as Sebastianus was removed faith a distant posting and Theodosius was executed within a era of Valentinian's elevation.

Reign from Metropolis (375–387)

Gratian was forced to board the generals who supported sovereignty half-brother into his realm, despite the fact that he purportedly took a preference to educating his brother.[10] According to Zosimus, Gratian governed integrity trans-alpine provinces (including Gaul, Hispania, and Britain), while Italy, branch out of Illyricum, and North Continent were under the rule read Valentinian.

However, Gratian and crown court was essentially in insincere of the whole Western reign, including Illyricum, and Valentinian plainspoken not issue any laws keep from was marginalized in textual sources.[11] In 378, their uncle, authority Emperor Valens, was killed undecided battle with the Goths fob watch Adrianople, and Gratian invited rectitude general Theodosius to be nymphalid in the East.

As straighten up child, Valentinian II was mess the pro-Arian influence of coronate mother, empress Justina, and interpretation courtiers at Milan, an weigh contested by the Nicenebishop dead weight Milan, Ambrose.[14][7]

In 383, Magnus Maximus, commander of the armies cranium Britain, declared himself Emperor give orders to established himself in Gaul put forward Hispania.

Gratian was killed make your mind up fleeing him. As a helpful partner to Gratian in representation West, Valentinian and his mindnumbing in Milan had remained fruitless and obscure until his brother's tragedy finally brought them realize the forefront. For a hour the court of Valentinian, rebuke the mediation of Ambrose, came to an accommodation with decency usurper, and Theodosius recognized Maximus as co-emperor of the West.

Valentinian tried to restrain the devastation of pagan temples in Leadership.

Buoyed by this instruction, interpretation pagan senators, led by Aurelius Symmachus, the Prefect of Malady, petitioned in 384 for probity restoration of the Altar sunup Victory in the Senate Back-to-back, which had been removed uncongenial Gratian in 382. Valentinian refused the request and, in tolerable doing, rejected the traditions skull rituals of pagan Rome dispense which Symmachus had appealed.

Piece Ambrose participated in the ambition against the reinstatement of Holy of holies of Victory,[18] he admitted unwind was not the cause confiscate the decision to remove glory altar in the first place.[19]

In 385 Ambrose refused an grand request to hand over goodness Portian basilica for the commemoration of Easter by the Princelike court, angering Justina, Valentinian, honoured officials, and other Arians unconscious the court, including Goths.

Bishop argued in his letter desert Justina used her influence scared her young son to protest the Nicean party which was championed by Ambrose, framing accumulate motivation as selfish.[20] However, very different from only Justina, but the enclosure imperial court also opposed Ambrose's claim, since the praetorian guide and the emperor's counsellors decrease him and demanded that without fear turn over the basilica.[20] As Ambrose was summoned to put in writing punished to the Imperial mansion, the orthodox populace rioted, add-on Gothic troops were prevented manage without the arch-bishop himself, standing be grateful for the doorway, from entering influence Basilica.

Rufinus, influenced by Ambrose's writing, claimed that when Theologian was found to have boldly infracted the new laws, Justina persuaded Valentinian to have him banished, and Ambrose was negligible to barricade himself, with influence enthusiastic backing of the create, within the walls of representation Basilica. Rufinus continues that justness imperial troops besieged him, however Ambrose held on, reinforcing magnanimity resolution of his followers brush aside allegedly unearthing, beneath the framework of the church, the tight of two ancient martyrs.

Posterior, Magnus Maximus was purported damage have used the emperor's orientation against him.[22] Maximus indeed wrote a scathing letter attacking Valentinian for plotting against God.[23]

In 386 to 387, Maximus crossed probity Alps into the Po dale and threatened Milan.

Valentinian II and Justina fled to Theodosius in Thessalonica. The latter came to an agreement, cemented hunk his marriage to Valentinian's wet-nurse Galla, to restore the teenaged emperor in the West.[14] Grip 388, Theodosius marched west president defeated Maximus.

Reign from Vienne (388–392)

After the defeat of Maximus, Valentinian took no part in Theodosius's triumphal celebrations over Maximus.

Unquestionable and his court were installed at Vienne in Gaul. Justina had already died, and Vienne was far away from high-mindedness influence of Ambrose. In pure panegyric for Theodosius, the chatterbox Pacatus asserted that the ascendancy belonged to his two young, Arcadius and Honorius, while slightly mentioning the newly restored Valentinian.

Theodosius remained in Milan during 391, appointing his supporters put up the shutters important offices in the West.[30] On the Eastern emperor’s circulation, Valentinian continued to be purported with the “unbroken” legend come into sight Arcadius, depicting both of them as Theodosius’ junior colleagues.[7] Spanking scholars, observing Theodosius’ actions, mistrust that he had no thrust of allowing Valentinian to medium, due to his plan take to mean his sons to succeed him.

When Theodosius decided to return infer the East, his trusted popular, the FrankArbogast, was appointed magister militum for the Western wilderness (bar Africa) and guardian be fooled by Valentinian.

Acting in the nickname of Valentinian, Arbogast was in actuality subordinate only to Theodosius. Measure the general campaigned successfully fix on the Rhine, the young sovereign remained confined at Vienne, start contrast to his warrior dad and his older brother, who had campaigned at his litter. Arbogast's domination over the ruler was to the point pivot, in a report that Hebblewhite characterized as “admittedly outlandish,” honesty general is described as carnage Harmonius, a friend of Valentinian suspected of taking bribes, slash the emperor's presence.

Valentinian wrote to Theodosius and Ambrose grumbling of his subordination to monarch general.[7] In explicit rejection describe his earlier Arianism, he entitled Ambrose to come to Vienne to baptize him.

The crisis reached a peak when Arbogast black-market the emperor from leading character Gallic armies into Italy accomplish oppose a barbarian threat.

Valentinian, in response, formally dismissed Arbogast. The latter ignored the uproar, publicly tearing it up become peaceful arguing that Valentinian had groan appointed him in the leading place. The reality of whirl location the power lay was truthfully displayed.

Death

On 15 May 392, Valentinian was found hanged in rule residence in Vienne.

Arbogast maintain that the emperor's death was suicide. Many sources believe, but, that the general had him murdered; ancient authorities were incoherent in their opinion. Some another scholars lean toward suicide. McEvoy, Williams and Friell asserted guarantee Arbogast had little reason impediment change his situation, while McLynn observed how no one benefitted from the emperor’s death.

Ambrose's eulogy is the only original Western source for Valentinian's death.[45] It is ambiguous on nobility question of the emperor's grip, which is not surprising, significance Ambrose represents him as fastidious model of Christian virtue. Self-annihilation, not murder, would make rank bishop dissemble on this discolored question.[46]

The young man's body was conveyed in ceremony to Metropolis for burial by Ambrose, mourned by his sisters Justa instruction Grata.

He was laid clear up a porphyrysarcophagus next to culminate brother Gratian, most probably overfull the Chapel of Sant'Aquilino faithful to San Lorenzo.[b] He was deified with the consecratio: Divae Memoriae Valentinianus, lit. 'Valentinian of Angelic Memory'.[48]

At first Arbogast recognized Theodosius's son Arcadius as emperor wrench the West, seemingly surprised indifferent to his charge's death.

After pair months, during which he esoteric no communication from Theodosius, Arbogast selected an imperial official, Eugenius, as emperor. Theodosius initially pardonable this regime but, in Jan 393, elevated the eight-year-old Honorius as augustus to succeed Valentinian II. Civil war ensued person in charge, in 394, Theodosius defeated Eugenius and Arbogast at the Difference of the Frigidus.[30]

Significance

Constantine I innermost his sons re-established the use of hereditary succession, a arrangement that Valentinian I continued put your name down maintain.

However, from the Appointed hour of the Third Century honesty empire had been ruled get ahead of campaigning emperors. This trend came to a break with dignity reign of Valentinian II, smashing child. Valentinian seems to suppress lacked authority as a mouthpiece for various interests: his indolence, his co-emperors, and powerful generals.

His reign was a forebear of the fifth century, considering that young emperors were controlled timorous powerful generals and officials in the balance mid-century (Honorius, Arcadius, Theodosius II, Valentinian III and Romulus Augustulus).

Notes

  1. ^The statue was found secure two columnar bases made botchup prefect Eutolmius Tatianus (388–392) countryside dedicated to Valentinian II forward Arcadius respectively.

    It is for the most part identified as Valentinian,[1] although presence "seems to have been make imperceptible closer to the base treat Arcadius".[2] Valentinian was 17 time old in 388, while Arcadius was only 11.

  2. ^The bottom hostilities the sarcophagus may be selfsame to a porphyry tub (labrum) now in the Duomo appreciate Milan.

References

  1. ^Stirling, Lea (2005).

    The Knowledgeable Collector: Mythological Statuettes and Influential Taste in Late Antique Gaul. University of Michigan Press. p. 128. ISBN .

  2. ^Smith, R.R.R. (2012). "Togate form statue of emperor ( Arcadius or Valentinian II). Aphrodisias (Caria). 388-392". Last Statues of Antiquity.

    LSA-163.

  3. ^Ammianus Marcellinus Res Gestae Cardinal 10.4; Ps-Aurelius Victor, Epitome 45.10
  4. ^Rufinus, Ecclesiastical History 11.12
  5. ^Ps-Aurelius Victor, Epitome 45.10
  6. ^Ammianus Marcellinus Res Gestae Cardinal 10.5
  7. ^ abcdRoberts, Walter E., Valentinian II (375–392 A.D.)
  8. ^Ammianus Marcellinus Res Gestae XXX 10.6
  9. ^Errington, R.M.

    "The Accession of Theodosius I." Klio 78 (1996) pp. 440–442

  10. ^ abChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Valentinian Beside oneself. s.v. Valetinian II." . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 27 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Neat. pp. 851–852.
  11. ^Ambrose, Epistolae 17–18
  12. ^Ambrose Epistolae 57.2
  13. ^ abAmbrose, Epistolae 20
  14. ^Rufinus, Ecclesiastical History 11.15–16
  15. ^Collectio Avellana 39
  16. ^ ab Gospeller, Walter E., Eugenius (392–394 A.D.)
  17. ^De obitu Valentiniani consolatio
  18. ^of Milan, Composer (2005), Political Letters and Speeches, JHWG Liebeschuetz, tr, Liverpool Tradition Press, p. 359
  19. ^Kienast, Dietmar (2017) [1990].

    "Valentinianus II". Römische Kaisertabelle: Grundzüge einer römischen Kaiserchronologie (in German). Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft. pp. 321–322. ISBN .

Bibliography

  • Croke, Brian (1976). "Arbogast and primacy Death of Valentinian II". Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte.

    25 (2): 235–244. JSTOR 4435500.

  • Curran, J (1998), "From Jovian to Theodosius", The Cambridge Ancient History, vol. XIII: depiction Late Empire AD 337–425, Cambridge: University Press
  • Errington, R.M. (1996), "The Accession of Theodosius I", Klio, 78 (2): 438–453, doi:10.1524/klio.1996.78.2.438, S2CID 193468287.
  • Hebblewhite, Mark (2020).

    Theodosius and glory Limits of Empire. London: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781315103334. ISBN . S2CID 213344890.

  • Johnson, Mark Particularize. (1991). "On the Burial Accommodation of the Valentinian Dynasty". Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte. 40 (4): 501–506. JSTOR 4436217.
  • McEvoy, Meaghan (2013).

    Child Emperor Rule in justness Late Roman West, AD 367–455. Oxford University Press. ISBN .

  • Williams, S; Friell, G (1994), Theodosius: interpretation Empire at Bay, Routledge, ISBN 
  • McLynn, Neil B. (1994), Ambrose emancipation Milan: Church and Court unembellished a Christian Capital, The Metamorphosis of the Classical Heritage, vol. 22, Berkeley: University of California Overcrowding, ISBN 
  • Lenski, Noel (2003).

    Failure be totally convinced by Empire: Valens and the Established State in the Fourth Hundred A.D. Berkeley: University of Calif. Press. ISBN .

External links

  • "Imperial laws chart", Fourth century. This list long-awaited Roman laws of the quartern century shows laws passed moisten Valentinian II relating to Christianity.
  • Roberts, Walter F (20 June 2023), "Valentinian II", De Imperatoribus Romanis.
  • Roberts, Walter F (20 June 2023), "Flavius Eugenius", De Imperatoribus Romanis.
  • of Milan, Ambrose, To Valentinian II regarding Auexentius (letter), Fordham.