Gratianus

Gratianus, AUGUSTUS, Roman emperor from 375 to 383, was the eldest son of Valentinian I., and was born at Sirmium in Pannonia in 359. At nine he was elevated by his father to the rank of Augustus at Ambiani, or Amiens, in Gaul, and next year accompanied him in his expedition against the Alemanni, in order to learn the art of war. On the death of Valentinian the troops elevated Gratian to the throne, giving him at the same time as a colleague his half-brother Valentinian II. Gaul, Spain, and Britain fell formally to Gratian's share, but as his brother was only four years old he virtually ruled also over the rest of the western empire, fixing his residence at Treviri (Trèves). At first he showed vigour in repelling the incursions of the turbulent barbarians, and suddenly found himself in 378, on the defeat and death at Adrianople of his uncle Valens at the hands of the Goths, sovereign also of the eastern empire. Finding himself inadequate for the task of ruling the whole empire, he recalled Theodosius from Spain, and appointed him his colleague on the 19th January 379. Gratian possessed some admirable virtues: he was pious, chaste, temperate, and eloquent; but his character was too pliant, and he was often led to commit gross acts of cruelty and tyranny. His persecution of the pagans, and afterwards of heretic Christians, made him a great favorite with orthodox ecclesiastics, but rather alienated the affections of his subjects generally; while his fondness for frivolous amusements and unworthy associates excited the contempt of the army, so that when Maximus was proclaimed emperor by the legions in Britain crowds of the disaffected flocked to his standard. Gratian was defeated by him near Paris, and fled to Lyons, where he was put to death 25th August 383.