by Jerome Carter

Created on: August 31, 2011   Last Updated: September 02, 2011

Valentinian II (371-392) was the Western Roman emperor from 375 until he was assassinated in 392.  During the early years of his reign, his mother served as regent and he shared the throne with his brother Gratian, or Gratianus.  Valentinian II ruled over Italy, Africa and part of Illyricum while Gratianus ruled Britain, Gaul and Spain.  In 383, his brother Gratianus was overthrown and killed by Magnus Clemens Maximus, who then became ruler of Gratianus’ portion of the Western Roman Empire.  Valentinian II continued to rule over Italy.  In 387, Maximus invaded Italy in order to claim the entire Western Roman Empire for himself.  Valentinian II sought refuge in the Eastern Roman Empire, which was ruled by Theodosius I.  Theodosius invaded the West on Valentinian’s behalf.  Theodosius defeated and killed Maximus and restored Valentinian II to the throne.

Valentinian II was born in 371.  He was the son of the Western Roman emperor Valentinian I.  The elder Valentinian was a leading Roman military leader during the reigns of the emperors Julian (r. 355-363) and Jovian (r. 363-364).  After the death of Jovian, the elder Valentinian was chosen by the army to become emperor.  After becoming emperor, Valentinian I chose his brother Valens to rule the East.  Valentinian I retained control of Illyricum, Italy, Gaul, Britain and Africa.  When Valentinian I died in 375, the Western Roman Empire was divided between his sons Valentinian II and Gratianus.  Valentinian II and Gratianus were half-brothers.  Valentinian I had two wives.  His wife Marina Severa was the mother of Gratianus, while his second wife Justina was the mother of the younger Valentinian II.

Valentinian II was just four years old when his father died.  But Valentinian I’s generals Mellobaudes and Equitus forced Gratianus to accept the partition of the Western Roman Empire between himself and the infant Valentinian II.  Valentinian II was given control over Africa, Italy and part of Illyricum.  The rest of the Western Empire was ruled by Gratianus.  Valentinian II’s capital city was Milan in northern Italy.  During Valentinian II’s minority, his mother Justina served as regent.

In late 382, Magnus Clemens Maximus, the commander of the Roman army in Britain, revolted against Gratianus.  By the middle of 383 Maximus had crossed the channel to France, forcing Emperor

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