History of Valentinian II

Valentinian II, also known as Flavius Valentinianus, was a Roman Emperor who reigned from 375 to 392 AD. His life and rule are characterized by political intrigue, religious conflict, and the complexities of maintaining unity within the Roman Empire during a time of significant internal and external challenges.

Born in 371 AD, Valentinian II was the son of Emperor Valentinian I and his second wife, Justina. Unlike many of his contemporaries who ascended to leadership roles, Valentinian II's rise to power was not a result of political maneuvering on his part; rather, it was a consequence of the sudden death of his father in 375 AD and the subsequent political dynamics within the empire. At the age of just four, Valentinian II was proclaimed emperor by the military troops stationed near his familial seat in Augusta Treverorum (modern-day Trier, Germany). His reign began during a time of significant instability in the Western Roman Empire, which was plagued by internal power struggles and external threats.

The empire at that time was divided between the Eastern and Western Roman Empires, with co-emperors ruling different segments. When Valentinian I died, the Western portion of the empire saw an immediate division of power. Valentinian II's older half-brother, Gratian, who was already emperor of the Western Roman Empire, accepted Valentinian II as co-emperor. This arrangement was largely a strategic move to prevent civil unrest and satisfy the factions within the Roman military and aristocracy.

Because of his youth, Valentinian II did not wield substantive power in his own right for much of his early reign. Instead, his rule was overshadowed by the regency of his mother, Justina, and the influence of his older brother Gratian, who was heavily occupied with handling challenges in other parts of the empire. Justina was an Arian Christian, and her influence ensured that Orthodox Christianity did not become overly hegemonic in the Western regions of the empire. This religious backdrop would later contribute to one of the more significant political challenges of Valentinian II's reign.

Throughout the 380s, the balance of power began to shift. Gratian was killed in 383 AD by the usurper Magnus Maximus, who took control over much of the Western provinces. Valentinian II, under his mother’s guardianship, was forced to flee to the Eastern Roman Empire's capital city of Thessalonica. During this period, Valentinian II relied heavily on Theodosius I, the Eastern Roman Emperor, who was consolidating power in the East.

Theodosius I became a pivotal figure in Valentinian II's reign. In 388 AD, after defeating Magnus Maximus, Theodosius restored Valentinian II to power. However, this restoration came with conditions that effectively placed Valentinian II under Theodosius’ influence, which meant that Eastern policies and interventions significantly colored Valentinian II’s rule. Despite this, Valentinian II was given control over Italy, Africa, and Illyricum, but these areas were effectively governed by Frankish general Arbogast, who was appointed by Theodosius and wielded real power.

This relationship with Arbogast, however, soon became a source of tension. Arbogast acted independently and openly defied Valentinian II, notably in military and administrative matters, highlighting the power struggles between the young emperor and his general. In religious matters, Valentinian II's reign was marked by tension between Arianism, supported by his mother, and Nicene Christianity, which gained advocacy through Theodosius. The religious dynamic added another layer to the socio-political fabric of the era.

Valentinian’s death in 392 remains a subject of historical debate. He was found hanged in his residence in Vienne under suspicious circumstances. Some sources suggest suicide due to frustrations with his powerlessness, while others imply murder orchestrated by Arbogast or other political entities seeking to capitalize on the prevailing discord. Regardless, his death precipitated further instability and a shift in power, as Arbogast briefly elevated Eugenius to emperor, sparking a subsequent civil clash with Theodosius I.

In a broader historical context, Valentinian II's reign is often viewed as a reflection of the complexities during the latter stages of the Western Roman Empire. Though he was in many ways a pawn in larger political and military struggles, his rule exemplifies the dynamics of imperial power, the interplay between different factions, and the importance of religious allegiances during this period.

In conclusion, Valentinian II’s rule was emblematic of a young leader surrounded by the uncertainties and intrigues of Roman imperial politics. Though his own political maneuvers were limited by his youth and the influences of more dominant figures around him, his time as emperor sheds light on the transitional nature of the Late Roman Empire, marked by challenges both from within and beyond its borders.