**VALENTINIAN I (Flavius Valentinianus Augustus), EMPEROR OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE OF THE WEST** — Born in Pannonia in 321, died there on 17 November 375. He entered the army and rose through all its ranks, distinguishing himself in the wars in Gaul and Persia.
VALENTINIAN I — VALENTINE
On account of his Catholic faith he was in disfavour under Constantius II and was even removed from the army by Julian. Reinstated by Jovian, he was promoted to tribune and, upon the latter’s death (February 364), was elected emperor; in the following March he associated his brother Valens (v.) with himself, entrusting to him the eastern portion of the Empire while retaining the West for himself. Desirous of improving the social conditions of his subjects, he issued several laws which, however, remained ineffective. He fought against the barbarians pressing in from every side upon the frontiers of the Empire; he himself defeated the Alamanni and the Quadi; Flavius Theodosius, the father of the future Emperor, vanquished the Saxons and the Franks. In Africa the intolerance of the Comes Romanus provoked the rebellion of Firmus; Theodosius crushed it, and shortly afterwards Valentinian, suspecting him of plotting against the Empire, had him put to death.
In religious policy, although he was a Catholic, Valentinian showed tolerance toward pagans and heretics, allowing all freedom of conscience, though he issued laws that were at times inconsistent. While, on the one hand, he assigned the property of temples to the treasury and forbade Christians to be employed in their custody (Cod. Theod., XVI, 1, 1), on the other he tolerated the altar of Victory remaining in the hall of the Senate. In 372 he issued a decree against the Manicheans and the Donatists, forbidding their assemblies, confiscating their goods, and punishing their leaders (Cod. Theod., XVI, 5, 3), yet he permitted Arian bishops to retain their sees. He repealed the restrictive laws on teaching issued by Julian and rigorously prohibited magical practices and divination (ibid., LX, 16, 7-10). He died during the campaign against the Quadi, struck down by a sudden collapse.