Valentinian II
Roman emperor from 375 to 392 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Valentinian II (Latin: Valentinianus; 371 – 15 May 392) was a Roman emperor in the western part of the Roman empire between AD 375 and 392. He was at first junior co-ruler of his half-brother, then was sidelined by a usurper, and finally became sole ruler after 388, albeit with limited de facto powers.
Valentinian II | |||||
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Roman emperor (in the West) | |||||
Reign | 22 November 375 – 15 May 392 (senior from 28 August 388) | ||||
Predecessor | Valentinian I | ||||
Successor | Eugenius and Theodosius I | ||||
Co-rulers | |||||
Born | 371 Treveri, Gallia Belgica, Western Roman Empire | ||||
Died | 15 May 392 (aged 21) Vienne, Viennensis, Western Roman Empire | ||||
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Dynasty | Valentinian | ||||
Father | Valentinian I | ||||
Mother | Justina | ||||
Religion | Christianity |
A son of emperor Valentinian I and empress Justina, he was raised to the imperial office at the age of 4 by military commanders upon his father's death. Until 383, Valentinian II remained a junior partner to his older half-brother Gratian in ruling the Western empire, while the East was governed by his uncle Valens until 378 and Theodosius I from 379. When Gratian was killed by the usurper emperor Magnus Maximus in 383, the court of Valentinian in Milan became the center of Italy where several religious debates took place. In 387, Maximus invaded Italy, spurring Valentinian and his family to escape to Thessalonica where they successfully sought Theodosius' aid. Theodosius defeated Maximus in battle and re-installed Valentinian in the West, under the supervision of the general Arbogast. In 392, after repeated conflicts with Arbogast, Valentinian was discovered hanged in his room under unknown circumstances.