VALENTINIAN II
Valentinian II, also named Flavius Valentinianus, was born to the emperor Valentinian I in 371. He was proclaimed Augustus just 5 days after his father's death in Bregetio in 375 at the age of four. His half-brother Gratian was already serving as Augustus of the Western Empire as early as 367 and it has been said that the reason the young Velentinian was proclaimed emperor was to prevent any trouble from brewing within the military because the army leaders refused to accept Gratian as Augustus.
Sources state that Gratian was a poor military leader and since the army was in the middle of a campaign against the Quadi when the elder Valentinian died, they had to proclaim another emperor to prevent the army from disintegrating. It was said that despite being disappointed the military leaders chose his half-bother to be the emperor, he accepted him gracefully and even took care of the young Valentinian's education.
In 376, Valentinian was consul together with Valens and the following year, he was consul with Eutopius. In 390, he held his final consulate with Flavius Neoterius. Because of Valentinian's age, Theodosius found an excuse to act as Augustus of the empire.
In 383, Magnus Maximus headed a revolt and named himself emperor after murdering Gratian. The bishop of Milan, Ambrose, mediated between the usurper and the emperor. Magnus Maximus demanded the surrender of the young emperor but the good bishop refused.
The negotiations allowed Bauto, Valentinian's Magister Militum to strengthen the Alphine against Maximus. The following year, Valentinian's party was urged by Theodosisius into entering a treaty with Maximus. Under the treaty, Valentinian was left in power but Maximus was recognized as an Augustus and was given control of Britain, Spain, Gaul, Africa, and Britain.
Illyricum was left to be controlled by Theodosius while Italy remained under the control of Valentinian. The agreement was broken in 387 after Maximus invaded Italy.
After Maximus invaded Italy, Valentinian II fled to Thessalonica with his mother. In 388, Theodosius defeated Maximus and put his brother back in power. After the restoration of Valentinian's power, his magister militum, Arbogastes almost had complete power over the Western Empire. Theodosius had asked Arbogastes to look after his brother and his court but this allowed Arbogastes to wield much of his power over the Western Empire.
Valentinian II was said to have complained about this set-up to his brother but his complaints were not given much thought. On May 15th, 392, Valentinian ended his own life. Some suspect Arbogastes murdered him, but many believe Valentinian's death was the result of suicide. Valentinian's body was found hanging at his home in Vienne, Gaul.
After his death, Arbogastes moved to have Eugenius appointed as emperor of the western empire. This fuelled suspicions that he orchestrated the "suicide" of Valentinian.
Valentinian's death resulted in a civil war with Theodosius and Eugenius fighting over the control of the western empire. Theodosius won and became sole emperor of the whole Roman Empire.
The reign of Valentinian II was unexceptional. Except for a controversy that involved him ordering an Arian bishop to take over one of the churches of Ambrose, his reign was pretty unremarkable. Valentinian is said to have favoured Arianism and his distracters used this against him.
Original Authors: Doods Pangburn
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 22/07/2008
