Ammianus Marcellinus 30.7.2–3: Observations on the Career of Gratianus Maior
From the journalHistoria Historia,Volume 64, December 2015, issue 4
Published by Franz Steiner Verlag
article, 4367 Words
Original language: English
Historia 2015, pp 479-486
https://doi.org/10.25162/historia-2015-0020
Abstract
The nomination of Valentinian I as emperor in 364 was not only based on his own military merits but also on the career of his father Gratianus maior. This paper investigates the background and career of Gratianus for which the main source is a passage in the necrology of Valentinian in the Res Gestae of Ammianus Marcellinus. The reconstruction of his career is of significance because the merits of a father became an important condition for candidacy for the imperial throne in the fourth century, in particular when there was no heir or designated successor.