The Reign of Valentinian, and How He Took His Brother Valens as Colleague

When the troops learned of the emperor’s sudden death, they wept for the departed prince as for a father, and made Valentinian emperor in his place. He was the man who struck the temple attendant and was sent off to the fort. He was distinguished not only for his courage but also for good sense, self-control, justice and great stature. He was of so kingly and high-minded a character that when the army tried to appoint a colleague to share his throne, he spoke the well-known words that everyone repeats: “Before I was emperor, soldiers, it was yours to hand me the reins of empire. Now that I have taken them, it is mine, not yours, to take counsel for the state.” The troops were struck with admiration at what he said, and contentedly followed the lead of his authority. [a]

Valentinian, however, sent for his brother from Pannonia and shared the empire with him. If only he had never done so! To Valens, who had not yet taken up unsound doctrines, he entrusted Asia and Egypt, while he kept Europe for himself. He traveled to the western provinces, and beginning with a proclamation of true religion, he instructed them in all righteousness.

When the Arian Auxentius, bishop of Milan, who had been condemned in several councils, departed this life, the emperor called the bishops together and spoke to them as follows: “Brought up as you have been in the holy Scriptures, you know very well what kind of man someone honored with a bishop’s office ought to be, and how he should rule those under him rightly, not only with his lips but with his life. He should show himself an example of every kind of virtue, and make his way of life a witness to his teaching. Seat on your archbishop’s throne now a man of such a character that we who rule the empire may sincerely bow our heads before him and welcome his rebukes as a physician’s healing treatment. For since we are men, we are bound to stumble at times.”