Valentinian II

Valentinian II
Marble statue found in Aphrodisias, usually identified as Valentinian II[1]
Roman emperor (in the West)
Reign	22 November 375 – 15 May 392 (senior from 28 August 388)
Predecessor	Valentinian I
Successor	Eugenius and Theodosius I
Co-rulers	Valens (East, 375–378) Gratian (375–383) Theodosius I (East, 379–392) Arcadius (East, 383–392) Magnus Maximus (383–388) Victor (384–388)
Born	371 Treveri, Gallia Belgica, Western Roman Empire
Died	15 May 392 (aged 21) Vienne, Viennensis, Western Roman Empire
Regnal name Imperator Caesar Flavius Valentinianus Augustus
Dynasty	Valentinian
Father	Valentinian I
Mother	Justina
Religion	Arian Christianity

Valentinian II (Latin: Valentinianus; 371 – 15 May 392) was a Roman emperor in the western part of the Roman empire between AD 375 and 392. He was at first junior co-ruler of his half-brother, then was sidelined by a usurper, and finally became sole ruler after 388, albeit with limited de facto powers.

A son of emperor Valentinian I and empress Justina, he was raised to the imperial office at the age of 4 by military commanders upon his father's death. Until 383, Valentinian II remained a junior partner to his older half-brother Gratian in ruling the Western empire, while the East was governed by his uncle Valens until 378 and Theodosius I from 379. When Gratian was killed by the usurper emperor Magnus Maximus in 383, the court of Valentinian in Milan became the center of Italy where several religious debates took place. In 387, Maximus invaded Italy, spurring Valentinian and his family to escape to Thessalonica where they successfully sought Theodosius' aid. Theodosius defeated Maximus in battle and re-installed Valentinian in the West, under the supervision of the general Arbogast. In 392, after repeated conflicts with Arbogast, Valentinian was discovered hanged in his room under unknown circumstances.