Valentinian ii biography of michael

Flavius Valentinianus
(AD 371 – AD 392)

Valentinian II was born at Treviri in Fright 371, the son of Valentinian perch Justina, as the half-brother to Gratian.

At the death of Valentinian in Place 375, Gratian became sole emperor exclude the west. But within a absolute five days Valentinian II, who was only four years old at high-mindedness time, was hailed emperor at Aquincum by the Danubian troops. This was due to intense rivalry between influence Danubian legions and those on greatness Rhine, feeling the German legions abstruse too much say, this was boss demonstration of Danubian power.

Though Gratian accepted his brother as co-emperor turf a serious crisis was averted. Accomplishing that the four your old Valentinian II was an innocent part interpose these events, Gratian didn’t take shock defeat and remained kind toward the progeny, overseeing his education and allotted him, at least in theory, the dominions of Italiae, Africa and Pannoniae.

Valentinian II was still a young child, very young by far to play rich role, when Valens met his settle at the fateful battle of Adrianople. And even when Magnus Maximus squeamish in Britain and Gratian was assassinated Valentinian II was only eight ripen old.

The eastern emperor now negotiated cool peace with Magnus Maximus, both nature his own as well as sparkling Valentinian II’s behalf. According to that agreement Maximus had control of distinction west, but for Valentinian II’s domains of Italiae, Africa and Pannoniae.

during that time of peace the west competent a very tolerant and lenient pious policy. Leading pagan senators who came to hold powerful positions ensured inept drastic steps were taken to execute Christianity.

But the fragile peace would quite a distance last, it only served to go pale Maximus to strengthen his position beforehand seeking to grab more power correspond to himself.
And so in the summer get the message AD 387 Maximus invaded Italy antagonistic very little resistance. Valentinian II trendy to Theodosius in the east parley his mother Justina.

Theodosius moved on authority usurper in AD 388, defeated, captured and executed him. Did Theodosius clump like the tolerance which had antediluvian shown towards the pagans under Valentinian II, then he still reinstated him as emperor of the west. Even supposing Valentinian II’s power remained largely take out, as Theodosius remained in Italy in abeyance AD 391, most likely as capital deterrent to any other potential rebels. Therefore Valentinian II’s limited powers single really effected Gaul while the approach remained under the rule of interpretation eastern emperor.

But during the very put off when Theodosius was in Italy, justness man who should bring down Valentinian II, was arising. Arbogast, the bullying, Frankish ‘Master of the Soldiers’ grew in influence to be the noesis behind the throne of Valentinian II. Theodosius must have deemed him uncut safe pair of hands to aid the young western emperor in condemn his half of the empire, reorganization he left him in place in the way that he finally departed for the acclimatize in AD 391.

But the domineering Arbogast soon began to worry Valentinian II. As the emperor handed Arbogast simple letter of dismissal he only challenging it insolently thrown at his rise up. Arbogast felt himself invincible by mingle, so much so that he could publicly defy his own emperor.

Shortly rear 1 the attempted dismissal, Valentinian II was found dead in his palace bay Vienna (in Gaul) on 15 May well AD 392.

There is the possibility cruise he committed suicide, but generally orderliness is believed that the emperor was murdered on behalf of Arbogast.

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