The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire · Character
Valentinian III
Also known as Valentinian the Third, Caesar Valentinian, Augustus Valentinian
- Supporting
- First seen · Book 1 · Ch. 139
A young emperor whose reign spans from childhood to troubled adulthood, marked by the contrast between imperial dignity and personal weakness. His presence suggests both the grandeur and fragility of late Roman authority.
- Gender
- male
- Age
- Young adult
- First appears
- Book 1 · Ch. 139
- Books
- 1
Valentinian III began as the six-year-old son of Placidia and Constantius, betrothed to Eudoxia and made Augustus under his mother's regency. As the timid grandson of Theodosius, he permitted himself to enjoy the peace and luxury of Italy while Aetius supported the empire. The feeble and dissolute emperor ultimately murdered Aetius with his own sword before being murdered himself by palace guards in the field of Mars.
Description
Young Roman emperor Valentinian III in his early twenties, wearing imperial purple robes with gold embroidery, golden diadem, pale complexion, slender build, dark hair, youthful but weary features, imperial regalia including scepter and orb.
Story so far
BOOK 1The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire / Table of Contents with links in the HTML file to the two Project Gutenberg editions (12 volumes)
Appearances
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