Valentinian I

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Valentinian I
Gold coin depicting a man with diadem facing right
Solidus of Valentinian marked: d·n· valentinianus p·f· aug·
Roman emperor
(in the West)
Reign26 February 364 – 17 November 375
PredecessorJovian
SuccessorGratian and Valentinian II
Co-emperorValens (in the East)
Born321
Cibalae, Pannonia, Roman Empire (now Vinkovci, Croatia)
Died17 November 375 (aged 54)
Brigetio, Pannonia Valeria (now Szőny, Hungary)
SpouseMarina Severa
Justina
Issue
Regnal name
Imperator Caesar Flavius Valentinianus Augustus[a]
DynastyValentinianic
FatherGratianus Funarius
ReligionNicene Christianity

Valentinian I (Latin: Valentinianus; 321 – 17 November 375), sometimes called Valentinian the Great, was Roman emperor from 364 to 375. He ruled the Western half of the empire, while his brother Valens ruled the East. During his reign, he fought successfully against the Alamanni, Quadi, and Sarmatians, strengthening the border fortifications and conducting campaigns across the Rhine and Danube. His general Theodosius defeated a revolt in Africa and the Great Conspiracy, a coordinated assault on Roman Britain by Picts, Scoti, and Saxons. Valentinian founded the Valentinianic dynasty, with his sons Gratian and Valentinian II succeeding him in the western half of the empire.

Early life[edit]

Valentinian was born in 321 at Cibalae (now Vinkovci, Croatia) in southern Pannonia[3][4] into a family of Illyrian origin.[5] Valentinian and his younger brother Valens were the sons of Gratianus (nicknamed Funarius), a military officer renowned for his wrestling skills.[3][4][6]

Gratianus was promoted to comes Africae in the late 320s or early 330s, and the young Valentinian accompanied his father to Africa.[7][4] However, Gratian was soon accused of embezzlement and retired.[7][3] Valentinian joined the army in the late 330s and later probably acquired the position of protector domesticus.[7][8] Gratian was later recalled during the early 340s and was made comes Britanniae.[7][8] After holding this post, Gratianus retired to the family estate in Cibalae.[9][8]

In 350, Constans I was assassinated by agents of the usurper Magnentius, a commander who proclaimed himself emperor in Gaul.[10] Constantius II, older brother of Constans and emperor in the East, promptly set forth towards Magnentius with a large army.[11] The following year the two emperors met in Pannonia and fought the Battle of Mursa Major, which ended in a costly victory for Constantius.[11][12] Two years later Magnentius killed himself after another defeat at the Battle of Mons Seleucus, leaving Constantius sole ruler of the empire.[11][13] It was around this time that Constantius confiscated Gratianus' property, for supposedly showing hospitality to Magnentius when he was in Pannonia.[11] Despite his father's fall from favour, Valentinian does not seem to have been adversely affected at this time, making it unlikely he ever fought for the usurper.[14][11] It is known that Valentinian was in the region during the conflict, but what involvement he had in the war, if any, is unknown.[14]

Service under Constantius and Julian[edit]

Mutilated bust of an emperor, most likely Valentinian I, or perhaps his brother, Valens.[15][16][17]

The conflict between Magnentius and Constantius had allowed the Alamanni and Franks to take advantage of the confusion and cross the Rhine, attacking several important settlements and fortifications.[7][14] In 355, after deposing his cousin Gallus but still feeling the crises of the empire too much for one emperor to handle, Constantius raised his cousin Julian to the rank of Caesar.[7][18] With the situation in Gaul rapidly deteriorating, Julian was made at least nominal commander of one of the two main armies in Gaul, Barbatio being commander of the other.[7] Constantius devised a strategy where Julian and Barbatio would operate in a pincer movement against the Alamanni.[14] However, a band of Alamanni slipped past Julian and Barbatio and attacked Lugdunum (Lyon). Julian sent the tribunes Valentinian and Bainobaudes to watch the road the raiders would have to return by. However, their efforts were hindered by Barbatio and his tribune Cella. The Alamanni king Chnodomarius took advantage of the situation and attacked the Romans, inflicting heavy losses.[14] Barbatio complained to Constantius and the debacle was blamed on Valentinian and Bainobaudes, who were cashiered from the army.[14][19]

With his career in ruins, Valentinian returned to his new family estate in Sirmium. Two years later his first son Gratian was born by his wife Marina Severa.[20][19] Valentinian's actions and location become uncertain around this time, but he was likely exiled,[b] or perhaps simply sent to command a remote outpost.[21] The sources give contradictory accounts of what happened, with some versions saying that he refused to make pagan sacrifices and voluntarily chose to leave, and others saying he was merely dismissed for his Christianity.[22]

Rise to power[edit]

At the news of Julian's death on a campaign against the Sassanids, the army hastily declared Jovian the new emperor. He extricated his soldiers from Persian territory by agreeing to a humiliating peace treaty, then started back to Constantinople,[23] dying in mysterious circumstances before he reached the capital. During Jovian's brief reign Valentinian was promoted to tribune of a Scutarii (elite infantry) regiment, which Hughes considered to reflect the emperor’s trust in him, and dispatched to Ancyra.[24]

A meeting of civil and military officials was convened at Nicaea to choose a new emperor. Salutius, who had already refused the throne after Julian's death, now did so again, first for himself and then on behalf of his son.[25] Two different names were proposed: Aequitius, a tribune of the first Scutarii, and Januarius, a relative of Jovian's in charge of military supplies in Illyricum. Both were rejected; Aequitius as too rough and boorish, Januarius because he was too far away.[24][26] As a man well qualified and at hand, the assembly finally agreed upon Valentinian, and sent messengers to inform him in Ancyra.

Valentinian and Valens enthroned on the reverse of a solidus of Valens, marked victoria augg· ("the Victory of Our Augusti"). They hold together the orb, a symbol of power

Reign[edit]

The Colossus of Barletta: Statue of a Roman emperor sometimes identified as Valentinian I. It probably depicts Leo I instead.[27]

Valentinian accepted the acclamation on 25 or 26 February 364.[28] As he prepared to make his accession speech the soldiers threatened to riot, apparently uncertain as to where his loyalties lay. Valentinian reassured them that the army was his greatest priority. According to Ammianus the soldiers were astounded by Valentinian's bold demeanour and his willingness to assume the imperial authority. To further prevent a succession crisis he agreed to pick a co-Augustus, a decision that might be construed as a move to appease any opposition among the civilian officials in the Eastern part of the Empire and reassure eastern officials that someone with imperial authority would remain in the east to protect their interests.[29]

Valentinian selected as co-Augustus his brother Valens at Constantinople on 28 March 364.[28] This was done over the objections of Dagalaifus, the magister equitum. Ammianus makes it clear that Valens was subordinate to his brother. The remainder of 364 was spent delegating administrative duties and military commands. According to the 5th century historian Zosimus, who as a pagan was inclined to revile the restorer of Christianity, all the ministers and officials appointed by Julian were summarily dismissed in disgrace, an assertion qualified by modern authorities.[30] It is certain that some reshuffling of commands occurred along with the division of the provinces, but the changes were strictly based on merit. The Sophists and philosophers who had proliferated in the court of the Julian, drawing large salaries for delusive services, were cashiered.[31] Valentinian retained the services of Dagalaifus and promoted Aequitius to Comes Illyricum. Valens was given the Prefecture of Oriens, governed by prefect Salutius. Valentinian gained control of Italy, Gaul, and Illyricum. Valens resided in Constantinople, while Valentinian's court was situated in Milan (Mediolanum).

Campaigns in Gaul and Germania[edit]

Reverse of a solidus of Valentinian marked: restitutor reipublicae ("restitutor of the Republic")

In 365 the Alamanni crossed the Rhine and invaded Gaul. Simultaneously, Procopius began his revolt against Valens in the east. According to Ammianus, Valentinian received news of both the Alamanni and Procopius' revolt on 1 November while on his way to Paris. He initially sent Dagalaifus to fight the Alamanni[32] while he himself made preparations to march east and help Valens. After receiving counsel from his court and deputations from the leading Gallic cities begging him to stay and protect Gaul, he decided to remain in Gaul and fight the Alamanni.[33][34] Valentinian advanced to Durocortorum and sent two generals, Charietto and Severianus, against the invaders.[35] Both generals were promptly defeated and killed.[36] In 366, Dagalaifus was sent against the Alamanni but he was also ineffective.[37] Late in the campaigning season Dagalaifus was replaced by Jovinus, a general from the court of Valentinian. After several victories along the Meuse river, Jovinus fought and won a pitched battle with the Alamanni near Chalôn.[38] After his victory he pushed the Alamanni out of Gaul and was awarded the consulate the following year for his efforts.[39]

In early 367 Valentinian was distracted from launching a punitive expedition against the Alamanni due to crises in Britain and northern Gaul. The Alamanni promptly re-crossed the Rhine and plundered Moguntiacum. Valentinian succeeded in arranging the assassination of Vithicabius, an Alamannic leader, but Valentinian was more determined to bring the Alamanni under Roman hegemony. Valentinian spent the entire winter of 367 gathering a massive army for a spring offensive. He summoned the Comes Italiae Sebastianus,[40] with the Italian and Illyrian legions, to join Jovinus and Severus, the magister peditum. In the spring of 368 Valentinian, his eight-year-old son Gratian and the army crossed the Rhine and Main rivers into Alamannic territory. They did not encounter any resistance initially – burning any dwellings or food stores they found along the way. Finally, Valentinian fought the Alamanni in the Battle of Solicinium; the Romans were victorious[41] but suffered heavy casualties.[42] A temporary peace was reached and Valentinian returned to Trier for the winter.[43] During 369, Valentinian ordered new defensive works to be constructed and old structures refurbished along the length of the Rhine's west bank.[44] Boldly, he ordered the construction of a fortress across the Rhine in the mountains near modern Heidelberg.[45] The Alamanni sent envoys to protest, but they were dismissed. The Alamanni attacked the fortress while it was still under construction and destroyed it.[46]

Portrait head of Valentinian or Valens on a modern bust.
Portrait head of Valentinian or Valens on a modern bust.[17]

In 370 the Saxons renewed their attacks on northern Gaul. Nannienus, the comes in charge of the troops in northern Gaul, urged Severus to come to his aid. After several modest successes, a truce was called and the Saxons handed over to the Romans young men fit for duty in the Roman military – in exchange for free passage back to their homeland. The Romans ambushed them and destroyed the entire invading force.[47]

Valentinian meanwhile tried to persuade the Burgundians – bitter enemies of the Alamanni – to attack Macrian, a powerful Alamannic chieftain. If the Alamanni tried to flee, Valentinian would be waiting for them with his army. Negotiations with the Burgundians broke down when Valentinian, in his usual high-handed manner, refused to meet with the Burgundian envoys and personally assure them of Roman support. Nevertheless, rumors of a Roman alliance with the Burgundians did have the effect of scattering the Alamanni through fear of an imminent attack from their enemies. This event allowed the magister equitum Theodosius to attack the Alamanni[40] through Raetia – taking many Alamannic prisoners. These captured Alamanni were settled in the Po river valley in Italy, where they were still settled at the time Ammianus wrote his history.

Valentinian campaigned unsuccessfully for four more years to defeat Macrian who in 372 barely escaped capture by Theodosius. Meanwhile, Valentinian continued to recruit heavily from Alamanni friendly to Rome. He sent the Alamannic king Fraomarius, as a Tribune, to Britain in 372–373 with an army in order to replenish troops there and made the noblemen Bitheridius and Hortarius commanders in his army although Hortarius was soon executed for conspiring with Macrian. Valentinian's Alamannic campaigns, however, were hampered by troubles first in Africa, and later on the Danube river. In 374 Valentinian was forced to make peace with Macrian because the Emperor's presence was needed to counter an invasion of Illyricum by the Quadi and Sarmatians.

The Great Conspiracy[edit]

A solidus of Valentinian

In 367, Valentinian received reports from Britain that a combined force of Picts, Attacotti and Scots had killed the Comes litoris Saxonici Nectaridus and Dux Britanniarum Fullofaudes. At the same time, Frankish and Saxon forces were raiding the coastal areas of northern Gaul. The empire was in the midst of the Great Conspiracy – and was in danger of losing control of Britain altogether. Valentinian set out for Britain, sending Comes domesticorum Severus ahead of him to investigate. Severus was not able to correct the situation and returned to Gaul, meeting Valentinian at Samarobriva. Valentinian then sent Jovinus to Britain and promoted Severus to magister peditum. It was at this time that Valentinian fell ill and a battle for succession broke out between Severus, a representative of the army, and Rusticus Julianus, magister memoriae and a representative of the Gallic nobility. Valentinian soon recovered however and in 367 appointed his son Gratian as his co-Augustus in the west.[48] Ammianus remarks that such an action was unprecedented. Jovinus quickly returned saying that he needed more men to take care of the situation. In 368 Valentinian appointed Theodosius as the new Comes Britanniarum with instructions to return Britain to Roman rule. Meanwhile, Severus and Jovinus were to accompany the emperor on his campaign against the Alamanni.

Theodosius arrived in 368 with the Batavi, Heruli, Jovii and Victores legions. Landing at Rutupiæ, he proceeded to Londinium restoring order to southern Britain. Later, he rallied the remaining garrison which was originally stationed in Britain; it was apparent the units had lost their cohesiveness when Fullofaudes and Nectaridus had been defeated. Theodosius sent for Civilis to be installed as the new vicarius of the diocese and Dulcitius as an additional general. In 369, Theodosius set about reconquering the areas north of London; putting down the revolt of Valentinus, the brother-in-law of a vicarius, Maximinus. Subsequently, Theodosius restored the rest of Britain to the empire and rebuilt many fortifications – renaming northern Britain 'Valentia'. After his return in 369, Valentinian promoted Theodosius to magister equitum in place of Jovinus.

Revolt in Africa and crises on the Danube[edit]

Silver missorium (heavily worn) believed to depict Valentinian I. The armoured and haloed emperor is flanked by infantry soldiers, he holds a labarum in one hand and an orb surmounted by a figure of Victory in the other, ca. 364–375

In 372, the rebellion of Firmus broke out in the still-devastated African provinces. This rebellion was driven by the corruption of the comes Romanus. Romanus took sides in the murderous disputes among the legitimate and illegitimate children of Nubel, a Moorish prince and leading Roman client in Africa. Resentment of Romanus's personal use of public funds and his failure to defend the province from desert nomads caused some of the provincials to revolt. Valentinian sent in Theodosius to restore imperial control. Over the following two years Theodosius uncovered Romanus' crimes, arrested him and his supporters, and defeated Firmus.

In 373, hostilities erupted with the Quadi, a group of Germanic-speaking people living on the upper Danube. Like the Alamanni, the Quadi were outraged that Valentinian was building fortifications in their territory. They complained and sent deputations to the magister armorum per Illyricum Aequitius, who promised to refer the matter to Valentinian. However, the increasingly influential minister Maximinus, now praetorian prefect of Gaul, blamed Aequitius to Valentinian for the trouble, and managed to have him promote his son Marcellianus to finish the project.[49] The protests of Quadic leaders continued to delay the project, and to put an end to their clamor Marcellianus murdered the Quadic king Gabinius at a banquet ostensibly arranged for peaceful negotiations. This roused the Quadi to war, along with their allies the Sarmatians. During the fall, they crossed the Danube and began ravaging the province of Pannonia Valeria. The marauders could not penetrate the fortified cities, but they heavily damaged the unprotected countryside. Two legions were sent in but failed to coordinate and were routed by the Sarmatians. Meanwhile, another group of Sarmatians invaded Moesia, but were driven back by the son of Theodosius, Dux Moesiae and later emperor Theodosius.

Valentinian did not receive news of these crises until late 374. The following spring he set out from Trier and arrived at Carnuntum, which was deserted. There he was met by Sarmatian envoys who begged forgiveness for their actions. Valentinian replied that he would investigate what had happened and act accordingly. Valentinian ignored Marcellianus’ treacherous actions and decided to punish the Quadi. He was accompanied by Sebastianus and Merobaudes, and spent the summer months preparing for the campaign. In the fall he crossed the Danube at Aquincum into Quadi territory.[50] After pillaging Quadi lands without opposition, he retired to Savaria to winter quarters.[51]

Death[edit]

Without waiting for the spring, Valentinian decided to continue campaigning and moved from Savaria to Brigetio. Once he arrived on 17 November, he received a deputation from the Quadi. In return for supplying fresh recruits to the Roman army, the Quadi were to be allowed to leave in peace. However, before the envoys left they were granted an audience with Valentinian. They insisted that the conflict was caused by the building of Roman forts in their lands; furthermore, individual bands of Quadi were not necessarily bound to the rule of the chiefs who had made treaties with the Romans – and thus might attack the Romans at any time. This attitude so enraged Valentinian that on 17 November 375,[52] while angrily yelling at the envoys, he suffered a fatal stroke.[53] As was the custom, he was deified, becoming known as Latin: Divus Valentinianus Senior, lit.'the Divine Valentinian the Elder'.[54]

Modern memorial to Valentinian at Szőny (Latin: Brigetio) in Hungary

Reputation[edit]

Modern historian A.H.M. Jones writes that although Valentinian I was "less of a boor" than his chief rival for election to the imperial throne, "he was of a violent and brutal temper, and not only uncultivated himself, but hostile to cultivated persons". According to Ammianus, "he hated the well-dressed and educated and wealthy and well-born". Clearly, Valentinian had his enemies in Rome who wanted to defame him by describing him as an illiterate brute. This was not a complete picture: Ammianus concedes that Valentinian had some spontaneous oratorical skill, and also says that in his spare time the emperor was "an elegant painter and modeller [i.e., sculptor], and an inventor of new kinds of [weapons]" (XXX.9.4).[55] He appointed Ausonius, the most brilliant Latin scholar at that time, as tutor for his son Gratian,[56] showing an appreciation for the kind of classical education which he himself had been denied. An able soldier and a conscientious administrator, he took an interest in the welfare of the humbler classes, from which his father had risen. He founded schools, and provided medical attendance for the poor of Rome by appointing a physician for each of the fourteen districts of the city.[57] He also reissued an edict of Constantine I making infanticide a capital offence.[58]

Unfortunately Valentinian's good intentions were often frustrated by a bad choice of ministers, and "an obstinate belief in their merits despite all evidence to the contrary."[59] Further, the benevolence of his more generous edicts was counterbalanced by remarkable cruelty and barbarism in his private affairs. He often had servants and attendants executed on trifling charges, and was reportedly accustomed to feed his victims to two bears, known as Mica Aurea (golden flake), and Innocence, whose iron cage was transported wherever the emperor went. At length Innocence, when she was considered to have faithfully discharged her office, was released with Valentinian's good wishes into her native wilds.[60]

Valentinian was a Christian but permitted liberal religious freedom to all his subjects, proscribing only some forms of rituals such as particular types of sacrifices, and banning the practice of magic. Again, Valentinian steadily set his face against the increasing wealth and worldliness of the clergy. He issued a pointed edict via Pope Damasus I, forbidding the grant of bequests to Christian clergy-men; and another forcing members of the sacerdotal order to discharge the public duties owed on account of their property, or else relinquish it.[61][57]

Socrates Scholasticus gives an interesting account in his Historia Ecclesiastica of Valentinian's marriages, that has inspired some to call this emperor polygamous. According to the text: the empress Justina[62]

became known to Marina Severa, wife of the emperor Valentinian, and had frequent dialogue with the empress, until their intimacy at length grew to such an extent that they were accustomed to bathe together. When Severa saw Justina in the bath she was greatly struck with the beauty of the virgin, and spoke of her to the emperor; saying that the daughter of Justus was so lovely a creature, and possessed of such symmetry of form, that she herself, though a woman, was altogether charmed with her. The emperor, treasuring this description by his wife in his own mind, considered with himself how he could espouse Justina, without repudiating Severa, as she had borne him Gratian, whom he had created Augustus a little while before. He accordingly framed a law, and caused it to be published throughout all the cities, by which any man was permitted to have two lawful wives. The law was promulgated and he married Justina, by whom he had Valentinian the younger.

— Socrates Scholasticus, Historia Ecclesiastica, IV.31

This story is known only from Socrates, and there is no trace of any edict by any emperor allowing polygamy. Valentinian I may have divorced Severa according to Roman Law, which allowed for divorce (see Women in ancient Rome).[63] However, since divorce was not acknowledged by Christians,[64] Socrates contemptuously describes him as a bigamist. It is also possible that Socrates attempted to accuse Justina, who was an Arian, of fornication, a common aspersion against other cults. According to John Malalas, the Chronicon Paschale, and John of Nikiu, the empress Severa was banished by Valentinian I for conducting an illegal transaction, before he consorted with Justina. Barnes believes this story to be an attempt to justify the divorce of Valentinian I without accusing the emperor.[65]

Appearance[edit]

The coin portraits of Valentinian and Valens are of dubious quality, showing "heavy" faces rendered with "no animation, and little consistency".[66] A more flattering physical description of Valentinian is given by Ammianus (XXX.9.6), who praises the emperor's "strong and muscular body, his brilliant complexion, his grey eyes, with a gaze that was always sidelong and stern, his fine stature, and his regular features".[67]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The name "Flavius" only appears in two single inscriptions, and only abbreviated as "Fl".[1] By the late 4th century, "Flavius" had become a courtesy title used not only for emperors, but to all high-profile men, like the Roman consuls.[2]
  2. ^ Sources give different commands Valentinian held at the time and vastly different places of exile: Philostorgius says Constantius exiled Valentinian to Thebes in Egypt, Sozomen to Melitene in Armenia, the Paschal Chronicle to Selymbria in Thrace, and Theodoret to "a distant fort.”[20]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Bagnall, Roger S.; Cameron, Alan; Schwartz, Seth R.; Worp, Klaas A. (1987). Consuls of the Later Roman Empire. American Philological Association. pp. 264–281. ISBN 1-55540-099-X.
  2. ^ Cameron, Alan (1988). "Flavius: a Nicety of Protocol". Latomus. 47 (1): 26–33. JSTOR 41540754.
  3. ^ a b c Roberts 1998.
  4. ^ a b c Grant 1985, p. 259.
  5. ^ Lenski 2003, p. 56.
  6. ^ Tomlin 1973, p. 2.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Tomlin 1973, p. 4.
  8. ^ a b c Hughes 2013, p. 7.
  9. ^ Tomlin 1973, p. 5.
  10. ^ Potter 2004, p. 471.
  11. ^ a b c d e Hughes 2013, p. 8.
  12. ^ Potter 2004, p. 473.
  13. ^ Potter 2004, p. 474.
  14. ^ a b c d e f Tomlin 1973, p. 13.
  15. ^ "Valentinian I". Museum of Classical Archaeology. This frowning head with staring eyes can be identified with accuracy by comparison with coins, and from a bronze head discovered in the early twentieth century at the Ponte Sisto in Rome.
  16. ^ Johansen, F. (1995). Catalogue of the Roman Portraits III; Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek. Copenhagen. pp. 178–179
  17. ^ a b García Ruiz, María P.; Quirogas Puertas, Alberto J. (2021). Emperors and Emperorship in Late Antiquity: Images and Narratives. Brill. p. 150.
  18. ^ Hughes 2013, p. 9.
  19. ^ a b Hughes 2013, p. 12.
  20. ^ a b Tomlin 1973, p. 14.
  21. ^ Hughes 2013, p. 16.
  22. ^ Jones, A.H.M.; Martindale, J.R. (1971). The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, Vol. I: AD 260–395. Cambridge University Press. p. 933.
  23. ^ Tomlin 1973, p. 16.
  24. ^ a b Hughes 2013, p. 18.
  25. ^ Edward Gibbon, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, (The Modern Library, 1932), ch. XXV., pp. 845, 846
  26. ^ Curran 1998, pp. 80–81.
  27. ^ "Discussion: Colossal bronze statue of emperor in cuirass. Probably from Constantinople (now in Barletta). Late fourth to fifth century [LSA-441]". Last Statues of Antiquity. University of Oxford.
  28. ^ a b Den Boeft, J. (2008). Philological and historical commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus: XXVI. Brill. pp. 23–24, 81–82. ISBN 978-9004163461.
  29. ^ James W. Ermatinger (2018). The Roman Empire: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 242. ISBN 978-1440838095.
  30. ^ Gibbon, p. 849 note
  31. ^ Gibbon, ch. XXIII., pp. 771–773; ch. XXV., p. 849
  32. ^ Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae XXVI.5.9
  33. ^ Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae XXVI.5.12
  34. ^ Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae XXVI.5.13
  35. ^ Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae XXVII.1.2
  36. ^ Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae XXVII.1.4
  37. ^ Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae XXVII.2.1
  38. ^ Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae XXVII.2.1–7
  39. ^ Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae XXVII.2.10
  40. ^ a b Hughes 2013.
  41. ^ Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae XXVII.10.15
  42. ^ Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae XXVII.10.16
  43. ^ Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae XXVII.10.17
  44. ^ Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae XXVIII.2.1
  45. ^ Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae XXVIII.2.2
  46. ^ Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae XXVIII.2.8
  47. ^ Rike, R.L., Apex Omnium: Religion in the Res Gestae of Ammianus (1987), p.. 91; Jones, Martindale and Morris, The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire Vol. I (1971), pp. 615–616
  48. ^ Curran 1998, pp. 83–84.
  49. ^ Gibbon, p. 894
  50. ^ Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae XXX.5.13
  51. ^ Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae XXX.5.14
  52. ^ Curran 1998, p. 86.
  53. ^ Lenski 2003, p. 142.
  54. ^ Kulikowski, Michael (2019). The Tragedy of Empire: From Constantine to the Destruction of Roman Italy. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0674660137.
  55. ^ Marcellinus, Ammianus (1972). Loeb Classical Library: Ammianus Marcellinus, III. Translated by Rolfe, John C. Cambridge, MA, and London: Harvard University Press and William Heinemann Ltd. p. 371. ISBN 0-674-99365-9.
  56. ^ Robert Colton, "Ausonius and Juvenal", in: The Classical Journal, 1973, p. 41
  57. ^ a b  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Valentinian I.". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 27 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 851.
  58. ^ Gibbon, ch. XIV, p. 375; ch. XXV, p. 859
  59. ^ A.H.M. Jones, The Later Roman Empire, 284–602: A Social, Economic and Administrative Survey (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University, 1986), p. 139.
  60. ^ Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae XXIX.3.9; Charles Kingsley, The Roman And The Teuton, A Series Of Lectures delivered before the University of Cambridge, (Macmillan & Co., 1889, London), lecture II, The Dying Empire
  61. ^ Gibbon, ch. XXV, p. 864; ch. XX, p. 662, editor's note
  62. ^ Translated by A.C. Zenos. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 2. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1890.)
  63. ^ Frier, Bruce W. and McGinn, Thomas A.J.: A Casebook on Roman Family Law (American Philological Association) OUP US, 2003. Part D, "The End of Marriage"
  64. ^ Matthew 19, 4–6.
  65. ^ Timothy Barnes, "Ammianus Marcellinus and the Representation of Historical Reality" (1998), pp. 123–125
  66. ^ Kent, J. P. C.; Hirmer, Max; Hirmer, Albert (1978). Roman Coins. London: Thames and Hudson. p. 57. ISBN 0 500 23273 3.
  67. ^ Marcellinus, Ammianus (1972). Loeb Classical Library: Ammianus Marcellinus, III. Translated by Rolfe, John C. Cambridge, MA, and London: Harvard University Press and William Heinemann Ltd. p. 373. ISBN 0-674-99365-9.

Sources[edit]

Primary sources[edit]

  • Ammianus Marcellinus. Rerum gestarum libri qui supersunt. W. Seyfarth, ed. 3 vols. Leipzig, 1978.
  • Charles, Robert H. (2007) [1916]. The Chronicle of John, Bishop of Nikiu: Translated from Zotenberg's Ethiopic Text. Merchantville, NJ: Evolution Publishing. ISBN 9781889758879.
  • Consularia Constantinopolitana. T. Mommsen ed., Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Auctores Antiquissimi. Volume 9. Berlin, 1892.
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  • Ammian, Books 26–30 Uchicago.edu. English summaries. Main text in Latin.

Secondary accounts[edit]

External links[edit]

Valentinian I
Born: 321 Died: 17 November 375
Regnal titles
Preceded by Roman emperor
364–375
With: Valens
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Roman consul
365
with Valens
Succeeded by
Preceded by Roman consul II
368
with Valens II
Succeeded by
Preceded by Roman consul III
370
with Valens III
Succeeded by
Preceded by Roman consul IV
373
with Valens IV
Succeeded by