A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

VALENTINIANUS. VALENTINIANUS. 1211
gave him hostages. Valentinian spent the winter funeral oration to assure us of the salvation of a
at Trbves, as appears from a constitution dated the prince, who had not received the sacrament of
8th of November. salvation, but had asked for it, and was disposed
Tillemont remarks, "that Theodosius, who spent to receive it." (Tillemont.) On this point, see
about three years in Italy, after the defeat of Gibbon, c. 27. note 108.
Maximus, had by his wise advice effaced from the Justina, the mother of Valentinian, was dead;
mind of the youthful emperor all the bad impres- she had not long survived the restoration of her son
sions which his mother Justina had fixed in him to his throne, and her influence expired before she
against the faith and St. Ambrose, and forming died. Justa and Grata, the sisters of the emperor,
himself after the example of Theodosius, he had a remained unmarried; and Galla, the wife of Theofervent devotion towards God, and loved St. Am- dosius, who deeply lamented her brother's death,
brose with such affection, that he cherished him as died in A. D. 394, in childbed, when Theodosius
much as he had formerly persecuted him." In was leaving Constantinople to avenge the death of
A. D. 391, Q. Aurelius Symmachus, who was consul Valentinian.
with Tatianus, was the head of a deputation from The reign of Valentinian is of little importance;
the Roman senate to Valentinian, the object of and what concerns the Roman legislation of this
which was to ask of the emperor the restoration period belongs to the history of Theodosius I.
of the privileges which Gratian had taken from the (Gibbon, Decline and Fall, &c.; Tillemont,
temples of the idols. The emperor however posi- Histoire des Esmpereurs, v., where the authorities
tively refused to grant the petition. are collected.) [G. L.]
At this time, the barbarians were in motion, on
the side of the Illyrian Alps, and it was apprehended that they might disturb Italy. Valentinian
set out for Italy, with the intention of going to
Milan. He was at Vienna (Vlenne), when he
sent for Ambrosius to baptize him before he entered
Italy, for he was yet only a catechumen. There
were many bishops in France, but Valentinian
wished to receive this Christian rite at the hands
of Ambrose. "'After having written to Ambrose, COIN OF VALENTINIANUS 1.
he passed the two following days in such inquietude
and such impatience to see the saint, that having VALENTINIA'NUS III., Roman emperor
despatched a courier in the evening, he asked on A. D. 425 -455. Honorius, emperor of the West,
the morning of the third day, which was the last died in August, A. D. 423, and Joannes, the Priof his life, if the courier had not returned, and if micerius, or first of the secretaries, assumed the
the saint was not coming." (Tillemont.) imperial dignity at Rome. Joannes sent to the
Arbogast, a Frank by origin, a man probably of emperor Theodosius II. to ask for his consent to his
violent temper, though on this point there is a dif- usurpation; but the emperor's answer was not
ference in the testimony, but a rude soldier and a favourable, and Joannes sent the general Aetius to
man of courage and address, was aiming at govern- the Huns, to seek their help. Joannes, wishing to
ing Valentinian, who was still a youth. Gratian secure the support of this able commander, gave him
employed Arbogast and sent him in A. D. 38] under the rank of Curopalates, as the mayor of the palace
Bauton to assist Theodosius who was pressed by was afterwards called. Theodosius (A. D. 424)
the Goths. After the death of Bauton, Arbogast sent Ardaburius, and his son Aspar with a powerful
assumed the command of the troops without, it is army against the usurper. They were accompanied
said, waiting for the orders of Valentinian. During by Placidia, and her young son Valentinian, who,
the usurpation of Maximus, Arbogast was faithful pursuant to the orders of Theodosius, was invested
to his master, and contributed greatly to the over- with the title of Caesar at Thessalonica by Helion,
throw of Maximus. Presuming however on his the Magister Officiorum, and the emperor also
abilities, his influence with the army, and the betrothed to him his daughter Eudocia, who was
youth of Valentinian, Arbogast kept the emperor in born A. D. 422. Valentinian was now between
a kind of tutelage, of which Valentinian complained five and six years of age. Valentinian was the son
to Theodosius. At last the emperor mustered of Constantius III. by Placidia, the sister of Honocourage to give into the hands of Arbogast a written rius, and the daughter of Theodosius I.
order by which he was deprived of his military In A. D. 425, Theodosius II. was consul for the
rank; but the proud soldier told him to his face, eleventh time, with Valentinianus Caesar for his
that he had not given him his office and that it colleague. Aspar, accompanied by Valentinian
was not in his power to take it away. With these and Placidia, arrived in Italy before the usurper
words he. tore the writing, threw it on the ground, expected them, and took possession of Aquileia.
and quitted the emperor's presence. Ardaburius came with a fleet, but a storm having
There are different accounts of the death of arisen in the Hadriatic, he was separated from his
Valentinian. The most probable is, that he was fleet, and with two galleys fell into the. hands of
strangled by order of Arbogast. His body was the soldiers of Joannes, who took him to the
taken to Milan for interment by the side of his usurper at Ravenna. Joannes treated the general
father, and Ambrose pronounced the funeral oration. kindly, in the hope of securing him as a friend, but
Valentinian II. died on the 1 5th of May, being only Ardaburius made use of his opportunity to gain over
a few months above twenty years of age. Justa and the officers of Joannes, and sent his son Aspar inGrata, the two sisters of Valentinian, deplored with structions to approach Ravenna. Aspar arrived
sincere affection the untimely end of their brother. with his cavalry, and being conducted across the
"Anmbrose, who was so well instructed in the marshes by a shepherd, or, as Socrates says, by an
d ctrine of the church, does not hesitate in his algel, found the gates of Ravenna open, and took