The life of Valentinian I
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Flavius Valentinianus
Imperator Caesar Flavius Valentinianus Augustus 3 July, 321 - Cibalae, Pannonia Secunda 17 November, 375 - Brigetio, Pannonia Valeria (aged 54) Natural causes February 26, 364 – November 17, 375 (11 years, 8 months and 22 days) Valens Valentinian Jovian Valens, Gratian & Valentinian II |
Early Life
Flavius Valentinianus was born in Cibalae, Pannonia Secunda on 3 July 321. His father Gratianus Major was of Illyrian origin and served as a military commander under Constantine I and Constans. Valentinian had a younger brother called Valens, who would also one day become Emperor of Rome. They spent much of their childhood together and enjoyed a good education thanks to their father.
Valentinian followed in his father's footsteps, first accompanying him to Africa while on work, and later joining the military himself around the year 340. Valentinian was still serving during the civil wars that plagued the sons of Constantine. His father had allegedly given refuge to the usurper Magnentius and had his property seized by the Emperor Constantius - the only emperor who emerged from the civil wars. Despite this, Valentinian does not seem to have been negatively impacted by his father's actions, and instead continued on his successful military career.
In 355 Valentinian was dispatched to Gaul to assist Constantius' cousin Julian with halting the Alemanni invasion, which had occurred while Rome was fighting its latest series of civil wars. Due to conflicting interests and interference on the Roman side, the Alemanni succeeded in attacking Lugdunum, causing much destruction and death. Valentinian and another commander were wrongly blamed for the disaster by one of Julian's co-commanders. Valentinian was dismissed from the military and return to his family estate in shame. He would spend the next few years at his estate, where his wife gave birth to his son Gratian.
Valentinian followed in his father's footsteps, first accompanying him to Africa while on work, and later joining the military himself around the year 340. Valentinian was still serving during the civil wars that plagued the sons of Constantine. His father had allegedly given refuge to the usurper Magnentius and had his property seized by the Emperor Constantius - the only emperor who emerged from the civil wars. Despite this, Valentinian does not seem to have been negatively impacted by his father's actions, and instead continued on his successful military career.
In 355 Valentinian was dispatched to Gaul to assist Constantius' cousin Julian with halting the Alemanni invasion, which had occurred while Rome was fighting its latest series of civil wars. Due to conflicting interests and interference on the Roman side, the Alemanni succeeded in attacking Lugdunum, causing much destruction and death. Valentinian and another commander were wrongly blamed for the disaster by one of Julian's co-commanders. Valentinian was dismissed from the military and return to his family estate in shame. He would spend the next few years at his estate, where his wife gave birth to his son Gratian.
Return from Exile
Valentinian would not actively seek out ruling the Roman Empire, instead his destiny would come to him. After Emperor Julian died he was succeeded by Jovian - who died only 8 months into his reign while journeying to Constantinople. The empire was left without a ruler, and with no clear line of succession one had to be chosen instead. The power and title of Augustus was offered to many, including Sallustius, a close friend of Julian - who refused the offer - and Auquitius and Januarius, two of Jovian's top military commanders. Both of these were eventually deemed unfit to rule. Eventually they decided upon the disgraced commander Valentinian, who they obviously saw as capable and qualified for the position, despite his exile. The council deciding upon who should rule immediately dispatched a messenger to his family estate.
Accession to the throne
On 26 February 364 Valentinian was officially sworn in as the new Roman Emperor. In his speech he reaffirmed his loyalty to the military, amidst rumours that he harbour a grudge after his dismissal. Following this the army gave him their support. Valentinian then named his own brother as co-emperor a month later on 28 March 364. This was likely done to ensure that all of the empire would be governed effectively and no one province would be ignored, as it had become clear for a long time that a single emperor was not enough to rule such a vast empire. However in this arrangement Valentinian was very much the senior of the two emperors.
Valentinian spent much of his inaugural year reforming the empire and appointing his own chosen individuals for various administrative offices, based on their capability and experience rather than because of them being his favourites. Valentinian ruled the western provinces from Mediolanum and gave command of the east to Valens, who made Constantinople his base of operations. His peaceful rule would not last for long though, as much of his reign would be spent waging war against hostile invaders.
Valentinian spent much of his inaugural year reforming the empire and appointing his own chosen individuals for various administrative offices, based on their capability and experience rather than because of them being his favourites. Valentinian ruled the western provinces from Mediolanum and gave command of the east to Valens, who made Constantinople his base of operations. His peaceful rule would not last for long though, as much of his reign would be spent waging war against hostile invaders.
Alemannic Campaign
In 365 Valentinian's attention was needed on the frontier after the Alemanni invaded Gaul. In addition a man named Procopius - a distant relative of the deceased Emperor Julian, and member of the Constantinian dynasty - had named himself emperor in the east, in opposition against Valens. Valentinian briefly considered delegating the task of defending Gaul to a subordinate while he rushed to the aid of his brother, but he was persuaded to remain in the West.
Valentinian did not want Rome to be fighting on multiple fronts however, so he immediately left for Gaul to crush the invasion there. He arrived with his legions at Durcortorum and dispatched two generals to stop the invaders. However, both generals lost their respective skirmishes and were killed in battle by the Alemanni. Valentinian appointed a new general to lead his forces, Jovinus. Jovinus was able to drive the Alemanni from Gaul after a series of victories.
A year later, the Alemanni invaded Gaul once again, sacking a few towns on the border. Valentinian realised the attacks would not cease until their leader had been killed, and so he arranged for him to be assassinated. Once this was complete Valentinian sought to bring the Alemanni's territory into the Roman Empire. By joining their lands under one political, economic and social banner he hoped it would put an end to their attacks once and for all. In the spring of 368 Valentinian, accompanied by his son, crossed the Rhine into Alemanni territory and eventually fought and defeated the main barbarian host at the Battle of Solicinium. Following the battle Valentinian commissioned a number of fortifications to be made along the Rhine frontier to deter further attacks, but the Alemannic territory itself was not brought under Roman dominance.
Valentinian would later form an alliance with the enemies of the Alemanni, the Burgundians. He attempted to persuade them to attack their rivals, but eventually their negotiations fell through - but not before terror had already been sown through the Alemannic territory at the prospect of a combined Burgundian and Roman assault. Valentinian used their current disarray to launch another invasion, managing to secure many prisoners for Rome. He continued to war against the Alemanni for four more years before eventually signing a peace treaty, as his attention was now needed on the Danube frontier where the Quadi and Sarmatians had just invaded.
Valentinian did not want Rome to be fighting on multiple fronts however, so he immediately left for Gaul to crush the invasion there. He arrived with his legions at Durcortorum and dispatched two generals to stop the invaders. However, both generals lost their respective skirmishes and were killed in battle by the Alemanni. Valentinian appointed a new general to lead his forces, Jovinus. Jovinus was able to drive the Alemanni from Gaul after a series of victories.
A year later, the Alemanni invaded Gaul once again, sacking a few towns on the border. Valentinian realised the attacks would not cease until their leader had been killed, and so he arranged for him to be assassinated. Once this was complete Valentinian sought to bring the Alemanni's territory into the Roman Empire. By joining their lands under one political, economic and social banner he hoped it would put an end to their attacks once and for all. In the spring of 368 Valentinian, accompanied by his son, crossed the Rhine into Alemanni territory and eventually fought and defeated the main barbarian host at the Battle of Solicinium. Following the battle Valentinian commissioned a number of fortifications to be made along the Rhine frontier to deter further attacks, but the Alemannic territory itself was not brought under Roman dominance.
Valentinian would later form an alliance with the enemies of the Alemanni, the Burgundians. He attempted to persuade them to attack their rivals, but eventually their negotiations fell through - but not before terror had already been sown through the Alemannic territory at the prospect of a combined Burgundian and Roman assault. Valentinian used their current disarray to launch another invasion, managing to secure many prisoners for Rome. He continued to war against the Alemanni for four more years before eventually signing a peace treaty, as his attention was now needed on the Danube frontier where the Quadi and Sarmatians had just invaded.
Britannia Campaign
During his campaign against the Alemanni Valentinian caught wind of an alliance between the Picts, Attacotti and Scots who were threatening the stability of Britain after they had killed a number of high ranking officials. Before the crisis could spiral out of control Valentinian journeyed towards Britain, sending a number of envoys ahead of him to assess the situation, but fell ill before he could travel to Britain himself. To ensure the stability of the empire in case of his own death, he appointed his son Gratian as his co-emperor in the West. However, Valentinian would recover from his bout of illness but remained in Gaul to oversee the Alemanni campaign. Instead he sent one of his top generals, Theodosius - the father of the Emperor Theodosius - to bring order back to Britain.
Theodosius succeeded in pacifying southern Britain, and later to the northern parts of Roman Britain which was then renamed to 'Valentia'. In addition, more strongholds were constructed and old forts were repaired to secure the hold over Britain. With the threat in Britain secured, Valentinian could refocus his efforts entirely on defeating the Alemanni.
Theodosius succeeded in pacifying southern Britain, and later to the northern parts of Roman Britain which was then renamed to 'Valentia'. In addition, more strongholds were constructed and old forts were repaired to secure the hold over Britain. With the threat in Britain secured, Valentinian could refocus his efforts entirely on defeating the Alemanni.
Danube Campaign
In 373, as soon as peace was made with the Alemanni, Valentinian rushed to the Danube to stop the Quadi tribe from invading Roman territory. The invasion had come about due to Rome building a series of fortifications inside Quadi territory, and continuing to construct them despite protests. Their pleas were ignored and eventually the Quadi saw that Rome would not listen to peaceful protest, so instead they opted for war. The Quadi called upon their allies, the Sarmatians and crossed the Danube as Autumn fell.
The Quadi attacked Pannonia Valeria first, a sub-division of Pannonia Inferior. They were unable to successfully siege fortified cities and towns, but they ravaged the countryside. Valentinian arrived in 374 and was met by Sarmatian emissaries who apologised for the war and asked for peace. Valentinian accepted the offer, but would not allow the Quadi to escape so easily. He plunged into Quadi territory with his forces and sacked their villages before retreating for winter.
The Quadi attacked Pannonia Valeria first, a sub-division of Pannonia Inferior. They were unable to successfully siege fortified cities and towns, but they ravaged the countryside. Valentinian arrived in 374 and was met by Sarmatian emissaries who apologised for the war and asked for peace. Valentinian accepted the offer, but would not allow the Quadi to escape so easily. He plunged into Quadi territory with his forces and sacked their villages before retreating for winter.
Death & Legacy
By the spring of 375 Valentinian resumed his campaign against the Quadi. Later that year the Quadi sued for peace, but during their negotiations they blamed Valentinian for allowing forts to be constructed in their own territory. To make matters worse, they also claimed that as the Quadi were not once unified people, some tribes or groups might decide to attack Rome regardless of a peace treaty.
Valentinian was so outraged that he allegedly flew into a furious tirade against the emissaries and died from a burst blood vessel. Despite his own death, the Valentinian dynasty would continue to rule the Roman Empire through his brother Valens, and his sons Gratian and Valentinian II.
Valentinian was so outraged that he allegedly flew into a furious tirade against the emissaries and died from a burst blood vessel. Despite his own death, the Valentinian dynasty would continue to rule the Roman Empire through his brother Valens, and his sons Gratian and Valentinian II.
Trivia
- After the Battle of Solicinium Valentinian ordered a fortress to be built across the Rhine, in Alemanni territory. When their protests were ignored the Alemanni invaded and destroyed it while it was being constructed.