Valentinian I

Valentinian I ruled the western empire for eleven years, was the last emperor to campaign successfully across the Rhine, and died of a stroke while shouting at envoys. Born in 321 in Pannonia, the son of a rope-seller who rose to command in Africa and Britain, he was a professional soldier with no education to speak of and a temper that is the constant of every account of him. He was chosen by the army and the civil officials at Nicaea in February 364 after Jovian died, and was required to nominate a colleague immediately. He chose his brother Valens and gave him the east, keeping the west himself — a division that turned out to be permanent. He spent almost his whole reign on the frontiers. He fortified the Rhine and Danube more heavily than any emperor since Diocletian, campaigned against the Alamanni for years, and sent Theodosius the Elder to Britain to restore it after the barbarian conspiracy of 367 and to Africa to put down a revolt. He was a Christian who did not interfere in doctrine, leaving Arians and Nicenes to argue, which was unusual and probably indifference rather than principle. He legislated against corruption, appointed defensores plebis to protect the poor from magnates, and funded doctors for the Roman districts — while punishing offences against himself with a ferocity his own officials recorded uneasily. He is said to have kept two bears. He died at Brigetio in November 375 in a rage at a Quadi embassy, bursting a blood vessel.

• Lived: 321 CE – 375 CE
• Nationality: Roman
• Roles: emperor, head_of_state, military_leader