Gratian Recalls the Exiles and Makes Theodosius Emperor

Gratian was now in possession of the empire, together with Valentinian the Younger. He condemned the cruel policy of his uncle Valens toward the orthodox Christians and recalled those whom Valens had sent into exile. He also enacted that people of every sect, without distinction, might meet safely in their churches, and that only the Eunomians, the Photinians and the Manichaeans should be shut out of the churches. He was also aware of the weakened state of the Roman empire and of the growing power of the barbarians, and he saw that the state needed a brave and prudent man. So he took Theodosius as his colleague in the imperial power. This Theodosius came of a noble family in Spain, and he had won such fame for his courage in war that everyone thought him worthy of the imperial dignity even before Gratian chose him. So Gratian proclaimed him emperor at Sirmium, a city of Illyricum, on the sixteenth of January, in the consulship of Ausonius and Olybrius, and shared with him the conduct of the war against the barbarians. [a]