VALENTINIAN II (Flavius Valentinianus Augustus), EMPEROR OF THE WESTERN ROMAN EMPIRE. — Son of the preceding emperor and of Justina, born in 371, died in Gaul in 392.
At the death of his father (375), through the intervention of his mother he was proclaimed Augustus and was recognized by his brother Gratian (v.) and by his uncle Valens (v.); Italy, Illyricum, and Africa were assigned to him. Given his tender age, one cannot speak of any political activity on the part of Valentinian II, since effective government was in the hands of Justina (v.) and of the *magister militum*, the Frank Bauto. The pro-Arian policy of the Empress led in 385–86 to the dramatic clash with St Ambrose over the cession of a basilica to the sect (St Ambrose, *Ep.* 20 to Marcellina: *PL* 16, 1036), from which the Saint emerged victorious. In 387 the same Ambrose agreed to go to Trier to prevent the imminent invasion of Italy by the usurper Maximus (v.), who had written to the young Emperor an obsequious letter urging him to desist from persecuting Catholics (*PL* 13, 591–94). The following year Maximus entered Italy; Valentinian II took refuge with Theodosius, who restored him to Milan after defeating Maximus (Aug. 388), and, Justina having died, placed beside him the Frankish general Arbogast. From this moment the young Emperor also benefited from the counsel of St Ambrose, who sought to make him worthy of the great Theodosius. The fruit of this friendship was the decree of 391 that proscribed every pagan cult and the refusal to restore the Altar of Victory, already removed by Gratian. But Ambrose’s guardianship was soon overturned. Valentinian II grew ever more oppressive; Ambrose was relieved of his office, but a few days later the Emperor was found dead in his bed. St Ambrose mourned his untimely death and composed a splendid eulogy (*Ep.* 53 to Theodosius: *PL* 16, 1215; *De obitu Valentiniani*, ibid., 1418–43).