Valentinian III

Valentinian III (Latin: Placidus Valentinianus; 2 July 419  16 March 455) was Roman emperor in the West from 425 to 455. Made emperor in childhood, his reign over the Roman Empire was one of the longest, but was dominated by powerful generals vying for power amid civil wars and the invasions of Late antiquity's Migration Period, including the campaigns of Attila the Hun.

Valentinian III
Head portrait set in a modern bust, Louvre.
Roman emperor in the West
Augustus23 October 425  16 March 455
PredecessorJoannes
SuccessorPetronius Maximus
Eastern
emperors
Theodosius II (425–450)
Marcian (450–455)
Born2 July 419
Ravenna
Died16 March 455 (aged 35)
Rome
Burial
SpouseLicinia Eudoxia
IssueEudocia
Placidia
Names
Placidus Valentinianus
Regnal name
Imperator Caesar Placidus Valentinianus Augustus
DynastyValentinianic and Theodosian
FatherConstantius III
MotherGalla Placidia
ReligionChristianity

He was the son of Galla Placidia and Constantius III, and as the great-grandson of Valentinian I (r.364–375) he was the last emperor of the Valentinianic dynasty. As a grandson of Theodosius I (r.379–395), Valentinian was also a member of the Theodosian dynasty, to which his wife, Licinia Eudoxia, also belonged. A year before assuming the rank of augustus, Valentinian was given the imperial rank of caesar by his half-cousin and co-emperor Theodosius II (r.402–450). The augusta Galla Placidia had great influence during her son's rule. During his early reign Aetius, Felix, and the comes africae, Bonifatius all competed for power within the western empire. Eventually Aetius would defeat Felix and Bonifatius. Aetius would go on to campaign against the many Germanic tribes invading the empire.

During Valentinian's reign the Huns invaded the Roman Empire. Eventually Aetius would defeat the Huns at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains. Once the Huns returned, Pope Leo I and two other senators convinced Attila to leave. Valentinian himself killed Aetius, and in response Aetius's bodyguards assassinated Valentinian. Valentinian's reign was marked by the ongoing collapse of the western empire.

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