Difference between revisions of "Valentinianus"

 

A Dictionary of Early Christian Biography <ref name="term_15262" />

<p> <b> [[Valentinianus]] (2) II., </b> emperor, a.d. 375–392, son of Valentinian I. and of Justina, his second wife. For his secular life see <i> D. of G. and R. Biogr. </i> His name is celebrated in church history in connexion with two matters: (1) An attempt in 384 by the [[Roman]] [[Senate]] to restore the altar of [[Victory]] and the pagan rites connected with the Senate. We possess the document <i> Relatio Symmachi Urbis Praefecti </i> on the one side and the Epp. xvii. and xviii. of St. [[Ambrose]] to Valentinian on the other (cf. St. Ambr. opp. Migne, <i> Patr. Lat. </i> t. xvi. col. 962–982 ). St. Ambrose carried the day, and the senatorial petition was rejected, as again in 391 (see Tillem. <i> Emp. </i> v. 244, 300, 349). (2) The other matter concerned the necessity of baptism. Valentinian died at [[Vienne]] in Gaul, being then about 20, and only a catechumen. Being anxious to receive baptism, he sent for St. Ambrose to baptize him. Before the sacrament could be administered, he was found dead. St. Ambrose's treatise, <i> de Obitu Valentiniani Consolatio </i> , §§ 51–56, shews how Ambrose rose superior to any hard mechanical view of the sacraments and recognized the sincere will and desire as equivalent to the deed (cf. Tillem. <i> Emp. </i> v. 356; De Broglie, <i> L’Eglise et l’Empire </i> , pt. iii. cc. v. and viii.). At one time Valentinian was inclined to support the Arian party at Milan, influenced by his mother Justina, who was bitterly hostile to St. Ambrose. Sozomen ( <i> H. E. </i> vii. 13), followed by Ceillier (v. 386), represents Valentinian and the empress as persecuting St. Ambrose and the Catholics of [[Milan]] in 386, referring to <i> Cod. Theod. </i> lib. xvi. tit. i. leg. 4. [Ambrosius; Justina.] </p> <p> [G.T.S.] </p>

 

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