VALENTINIAN I (Flavius Valentinianus)

• Valentinian was born in Cibalae (near modern Osijek, Croatia), in the province of Pannonia.
• Jovian died on 16th February 364, on his way to Constantinople, found dead in his tent.
• The Roman army elected Valentinian to succeed him. Valentinian had been an important commander under Julian and Jovian.
• Valentinian chose his brother Valens to share his rule, as emperor of the East, keeping for himself Illyricum, Italy, Gaul, Britain, Spain, and north Africa.
• Valentinian was a fairly enightened ruler, pro-Christian and furthering education throughout the empire.
• In 367 Valentian made his eldest son, Gratian, then 7 years old, co-Emperor in the west.
• In 375 he went to Illyricum to counter an invasion by the Quadi and Sarmatians. While giving an audience to the invaders, he became so incensed that he suffered a stroke and died.