| Valentinian II | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Marble statue of an emperor found in Aphrodisias, usually identified Valentinian II[a] | |||||
| Roman emperor | |||||
| 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 | ||||
| |||||
| Dynasty | Valentinian | ||||
| Father | Valentinian I | ||||
| Mother | Justina | ||||
| Religion | Arian Christianity | ||||
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.
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.
- ^ Stirling, Lea (2005). The Learned Collector: Mythological Statuettes and Classical Taste in Late Antique Gaul. University of Michigan Press. p. 128. ISBN 978-0-472-11433-7.
- ^ Smith, R.R.R. (2012). "Togate portrait statue of emperor ( Arcadius or Valentinian II). Aphrodisias (Caria). 388-392". Last Statues of Antiquity. LSA-163.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).