Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century/Valentinianus
Valentinianus (2) II., emperor, a.d.
375–392, son of Valentinian I. and of Justina, his
second wife. For his secular life see D. of G.
and R. Biogr. 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 Relatio Symmachi Urbis Praefecti
on the one side and the Epp. xvii. and xviii.
of St. Ambrose to Valentinian on the other
(cf. St. Ambr. opp. Migne, Patr. Lat. t. xvi.
col. 962–982 ). St. Ambrose carried the day,
and the senatorial petition was rejected, as
again in 391 (see Tillem. Emp. 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, de Obitu Valentiniani Consolatio, §§ 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. Emp. v.
356; De Broglie, L’Eglise et l’Empire, 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
(H. E. 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 Cod. Theod. lib. xvi.
tit. i. leg. 4.
[Ambrosius;
Justina.]
[G.T.S.]