Gratian
“Rome belongs to you Pappy Damasus. I am off to Milan.”
“I can run, jump and wrestle. Can we organise a match against the Germans?”
Three words sum up the reign of emperor Gratian (359-383). Piss, poor (and) pathetic. So low was he held in the opinions of his own soldiers about his abilities, their leaders insisted Gratian share the responsibility of running the Western Roman Empire with Valentinian II, a mighty warrior - aged 5. Gratian was in short ill suited to rule and would have had problems of holding down the job of cleaner at the imperial palace.
Permanent juvenile[edit]
Gratian was born in 359. His father Valentinian was a thick necked general in the service of Emperor Constantius II who would eventual get his chance of glory in 364. Gratian shared his father's new imperial status and in 367 became co-emperor. An important job in charge of the coloured crayons and blowing up balloons. In 374 (still wearing a short toga) Gratian was married. His chosen spouse was the equally youthful Constantia, daughter of former emperor Constantius II and therefore the last family link to Constantine the Great. Gratian accepted his father's desperate attempt to link their fortunes to a more prestigious dynastic legacy, but forced his child bride to stay in her own fluffy-toy-filled bedroom whilst he loitered around in churches acting pious.
Sharing[edit]
In 375 Gratian's father died suddenly, whilst in a fully fisted argument with a bunch of illegal German tourists. Gratian initially became solo emperor but as outlined above, he was soon forced to share his dignity with half-brother Valentinian Jr. Historic contemporaries said Gratian had 'soft hands and a talcum-powdered bum'. Gratian preferred to 'enhance' his masculinity by staying near the frontiers at Trier whilst Valentinian was left in Rome to be brought up by women and bishops.
Frontiers and the East[edit]
Now that he was an emperor, Gratian had to show his army he was worthy of the position by getting down and dirty with his soldiers. Gratian hated to do this and didn't trust any of his troops not to kill him. So got himself a bodyguard of Alans, a people from the Russian steppes where every man was called Alan.
As usual the various German tribes were causing the biggest problem. They were now claiming to asylum seekers, on the run from The Huns. One group called the Goths chose to swim across the Danube frontier and end up within the Eastern Roman empire as controlled by Gratian's uncle Valens. Despite the blood link, Gratian had no time for his uncle who had acquired a reputation of a sadistic pervert. Valens was also the wrong type of Christian as he was an Arian which meant he ate babies for breakfast and said rude things about the Virgin Mary.
Gratian agreed to assist the East Roman army but declined to travel fast as he had an upset stomach. By the time they caught up, Gratian's soldiers were greeted by a flock of crows picking out the eyes and entrails of former work colleagues. Valens (being short to start with) was already reduced to a few bones and chewed finger nails by the hungry carrion. There was a vacancy to fill.
Now any other emperor would have just taken over the other half of the empire but Gratian just gave it away to the soldier standing next to him. This was Theodosius the Spaniard - otherwise known as Theodosius the Great. Gratian the Overgenerous had done it again.
Saints, Popes and Pagans[edit]
There had been many signs earlier that Gratian had been 'got at' by the Christians but considering how knock kneed he was when defending his own interests, Gratian was an easy conquest. In fact Gratian was less of military man then either of Bishop Ambrose of Milan and Pope Damasus in Rome. The former had been a soldier and the latter had organised a massacre of opponents in a disputed papal election. Gratian was no match for these two thugs in cassocks. They cared less about the Roman empire's internal stability but were dead keen on something more important:the elimination of paganism and seizing some prime real estate.
In theory since 313, the Christians were just one religious group amongst others who were allowed to build churches, ring bells and convert people. Roman emperors since Constantine the Great had been Christian, with just Julian the Apostate coming back out as a retro-pagan. For 40 years with the Christians had split into bitter feuding over the exact family arrangements between Jesus,God who's turn it was to the washing up in Heaven but that had been resolved when Valens had died and the Arians were banished. Now all Christians in authority were Nicene adherers and Ambrose and Damasus insisted Christian taxpayers should no longer fund the publicly supported pagan temples.
Supported by Theodosius in the East, Ambrose and Damasus made their point more obvious by supporting Christian riot mobs to attack the temples. Some took it further and ransacked a few synagogues too but official anti-semitism was held back for now. Only the Senate which was full of ancient and rich pagan families declined to support the new Edicts of Intolerance . Gratian ordered his soldiers to take away the senators soft cushions and melted down a huge brazier the senators were using as the 'Altar of Victory' - and a handy way to cook sausages to snack on during some droning speech. In a final act, Gratian abandoned the title of Pontifex Maximus.
This title all emperors had held since Augustus as guardians of the old gods and protector of vestal virgins. It also granted free entry to some of Rome's most exclusive and sauciest clubs. Gratian gave this title to Pope Damasus without a receipt or the promise of a refund. The Rome of the Caesars was now in the custody of Friends of Jesus. Gratian packed his purple rucksack and thumbed a lift to Milan.
Rebellion and Death[edit]
In 383 Gratian's wife died and he married someone more to his liking, a woman called Laeta. May be this or a general dislike of Gratian's less-than-heroic leadership persuaded legions in Britannia to rebel. They elected their own emperor Gluteus Magnus Maximus, a friend and probable relative of emperor Theodosius. Gratian sent a letter to Theodosius complaining about Maximus and marched with an army to locate the rebel. But it was Gratian's troops who deserted him in Gaul, even his 'Alans' ran away. Gratian surrendered on the promise he would be spared and was then promptly knifed to death at a banquet to celebrate Maximus's success.
Ingratitude[edit]
Considering all the favours and powers Gratian had given to the Christians, it is surprising he wasn't remembered too well. Or rather, what happened all the glory went to Theodosius instead when he was finally able to close down official paganism a few years later. Ambrose and Damasus both died as richly rewarded saints. Gratian's posthumous prize was..nothing.
See Also[edit]
| Preceded by: Valentinian I |
Roman Emperor 375-383 |
Succeeded by: Magnus Maximus (West) |
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