Editing Valentinian I (section)

== Service under Constantius and Julian ==
[[File:Valentiniano Primo.jpg|thumb|Damaged head of a [[Valentinian dynasty|Valentinianic]] emperor. It most likely depicts Valentinian I, or perhaps his brother, Valens. In [[Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Valentinian I |url=https://museum.classics.cam.ac.uk/collections/casts/valentinian-i |access-date= |website=[[Museum of Classical Archaeology, Cambridge|Museum of Classical Archaeology]] |quote=This frowning head with staring eyes can be identified with accuracy by comparison with coins, and from a bronze head discovered in the early twentieth century at the Ponte Sisto in Rome.}}</ref><ref>Johansen, F. (1995). ''Catalogue of the Roman Portraits III; Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek''. Copenhagen. pp. 178–179</ref><ref name=":2">García Ruiz, María P.; Quirogas Puertas, Alberto J. (2021). [https://books.google.com/books?id=xo8cEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA150 ''Emperors and Emperorship in Late Antiquity: Images and Narratives'']. Brill. p. 150.</ref><ref>[http://laststatues.classics.ox.ac.uk/database/discussion.php?id=950 http://laststatues.classics.ox.ac.uk, LSA-578 (J. Lenaghan)]</ref>]]
During the conflict between Magnentius and Constantius, the [[Alamanni]] and [[Franks]] took advantage of the confusion and crossed the [[Rhine]], attacking several important settlements and fortifications.{{Sfn|Tomlin|1973|p=4}}{{Sfn|Tomlin|1973|p=13}} In 355, after deposing his cousin [[Constantius Gallus|Gallus]] but still feeling the crises of the empire too much for one emperor to handle, Constantius raised his cousin [[Julian (emperor)|Julian]] to the rank of ''[[Caesar (title)|Caesar]]''.{{Sfn|Tomlin|1973|p=4}}{{sfn|Hughes|2013|p=9}} With the situation in Gaul rapidly deteriorating, Julian was made at least nominal commander of one of the two main armies in Gaul, [[Barbatio]] being commander of the other.{{Sfn|Tomlin|1973|p=4}} Constantius devised a strategy where Julian and Barbatio would operate in a pincer movement against the Alamanni.{{Sfn|Tomlin|1973|p=13}} However, a band of Alamanni slipped past Julian and Barbatio and attacked [[Lugdunum]] ([[Lyon]]). Julian sent the tribunes Valentinian and [[Bainobaudes]] to watch the road the raiders would have to return by. However, their efforts were hindered by Barbatio and his tribune Cella. The Alamanni king [[Chnodomarius]] took advantage of the situation and attacked the Romans, inflicting heavy losses.{{Sfn|Tomlin|1973|p=13}} Barbatio complained to Constantius and the debacle was blamed on Valentinian and Bainobaudes, who were cashiered from the army.{{Sfn|Tomlin|1973|p=13}}{{sfn|Hughes|2013|p=12}}

With his career in ruins, Valentinian returned to his new family estate in [[Sirmium]]. Two years later his first wife [[Marina Severa]] gave birth to a son, [[Gratian]].{{Sfn|Tomlin|1973|p=14}}{{sfn|Hughes|2013|p=12}} During the sole reign of the polytheist Julian, Valentinian's actions and location become uncertain, but he was likely exiled,{{efn|Sources give different commands Valentinian held at the time and vastly different places of exile: [[Philostorgius]] says Constantius exiled Valentinian to [[Thebes, Egypt|Thebes]] in [[Roman Egypt|Egypt]], [[Sozomen]] to [[Melitene]] in [[Lesser Armenia|Armenia]], the [[Paschal Chronicle]] to [[Selymbria]] in [[Thrace]], and [[Theodoret]] to "a distant fort.”{{Sfn|Tomlin|1973|p=14}}}} or perhaps simply sent to command a remote outpost.{{sfn|Hughes|2013|p=16}} The sources give contradictory accounts of what happened, with some versions saying that he refused to make pagan sacrifices and voluntarily chose to leave, and others saying he was merely dismissed for his Christianity.<ref>Jones, A.H.M.; Martindale, J.R. (1971). The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, Vol. I: AD 260–395. Cambridge University Press. p. 933.</ref>