Flavius Valentinianus or Valentinian II, was born to Emperor Valentinian I and Justina in 371 CE. Unfortunately for young Valentinian, his father would die in 375 CE. After the elder Valentinian's death, several generals conspired against Gratian, the heir and eldest son of Valentinian I, and decided to make Valentinian II Emperor. Valentinian was four years old at the time. The generals did this to strengthen their own power against Gratian, who they saw as a "pretty boy" who was not disposed toward the army and fighting. This unfortunately would set the trend of young Valentinian being a puppet for others all his life. Gratian reluctantly accepted his younger half brother as Co-Augustus of the Western Empire in late 375.
Sadly or happily (it depends on your opinion of what is to come), Gratian alienated the army by dressing up like a Scythian warrior and gave lavish donatives to his Alan bodyguards. The troops in Britain had had enough of Gratian, who never was much of a soldier, and proclaimed the Comes Britanniae (Count of Britain) Emperor.
The Count led his army from Britain and successfully overthrew and beheaded Gratian in 383 CE. He (the Count) then ordered Valentinian (who was still based in Milan) to come to him "as a father comes to his son." It is unknown what would have happened to Valentinian if he had left for Trier, but most likely he would have been exiled or executed.
Unfortunately while in Milan, Valentinian came across Ambrose of Milan; Ambrose can best be described as part bully and part bigot. In 387 the Emperor/Count finally invaded Italy as a response to the mobilization of the Eastern Augustus's armies. Valentinian II fled with his mother to Theodosius, who then arranged a deal: Valentinian's sister would marry Theodosius in exchange for driving the Count out of Italy.
After multiple bloody battles, Theodosius accomplished his goal. Theodosius then left a Frank named Arbogast in command of the remainder of the Western Empire's armies. Valentinian was still technically Emperor of the Western provinces, but this was only on paper. Aborgast ran the show and made many signs to show that he, not Valentinian was in charge. The situation got so bad for Valentinian that he wrote to Theodosius about the whole affair. Theodosius, who had engineered this to keep Valentinian powerless, was probably very happy with it.
Valentinian finally dismissed Arbogast from his post in response to Arbogast's blatant insults to his authority.When Arbogast received the letter, he simply tore up the resignation papers in front of Valentinian's face and stated that "Theodosius had appointed him to his post, not Valentinian." This threw poor Valentinian into a rage, he grabbed the nearest guard's sword and lashed out at the Frank; Valentinian was easily restrained.
Valentinian was probably fed up with being puppet for all his life, he probably decided to end it (his life). On 15, May 392 he was found hanged in his bed chamber. Historians, both contemporary and modern, say that it most likely was a suicide.
Valentinian II is one of the few characters from Late Antiquity that I actually feel sorry for. RIP Valentinian II
Here are two coins I that are going to arrive after I leave the states for my studies. My parents assured me that they will place them in the deposit box in the bank. Lets hope they don't sell them to buy a new purse or tool kit
The Count
Magnus Maximus AR Siliqua
Struck @ Trier between 383-388 CE
....and the Puppet
Valentinian II Siliqua
Struck between 389-392 CE
From a statue of the poor guy...
Posted 05/18/2015 11:15 pm
