Editing Valentinian II (section)

==Reign from Vienne (388–392)==
[[Image:Solidus of Valentinian II, AD 390.png|thumb|A [[solidus (coin)|solidus]] minted by Valentinian II in AD 390. On the reverse, both Valentinian and [[Theodosius I]] are celebrated as victorious.]]

After the defeat of Maximus, Valentinian took no part in Theodosius' [[Roman triumph|triumphal celebrations]] over Maximus.{{sfn|McEvoy|2013|p=92}} He and his court were installed at [[Vienne, Isère|Vienne]] in Gaul.{{sfn|Croke|1976|p=236}} Justina had already died, and Vienne was far away from the influence of Ambrose. In a panegyric for Theodosius, the orator [[Pacatus]] asserted that the empire belonged to his two sons, Arcadius and Honorius, while barely mentioning the newly restored Valentinian.{{sfn|McEvoy|2013|p=92}} Theodosius remained in Milan until 391, appointing his supporters to important offices in the West.{{Sfn|Croke|1976|p=236}}<ref name="Eugenius"> Roberts, Walter E., [http://www.roman-emperors.sites.luc.edu/eugene.htm Eugenius (392–394 A.D.)]</ref> On the Eastern emperor's coinage, Valentinian continued to be represented with the "unbroken" legend like Arcadius, depicting both of them as Theodosius' junior colleagues.{{sfn|McEvoy|2013|p=93}}{{sfn|Croke|1976|pp=235–236}}<ref name="Valentinian"/> Modern scholars, observing Theodosius' actions, suspect that he had no intention of allowing Valentinian to rule, due to his plan for his sons to succeed him.{{sfn|McEvoy|2013|pp=94–95}}{{sfn|McLynn|1994|p=335}}{{Sfn|Williams|Friell|1994|p=66}}

When Theodosius decided to return to the East, his trusted general, the [[Franks|Frank]] [[Arbogast (magister militum)|Arbogast]], was appointed [[magister militum]] for the Western provinces (bar Africa) and guardian of Valentinian.{{sfn|McEvoy|2013|p=95}} Acting in the name of Valentinian, Arbogast was actually subordinate only to Theodosius.{{Sfn|Williams|Friell|1994|p=126}} While the general campaigned successfully on the Rhine, the young emperor remained confined at Vienne,{{sfn|McEvoy|2013|p=95}}{{sfn|McLynn|1994|p=335}} in contrast to his warrior father and his older brother, who had campaigned at his age.{{Sfn|Williams|Friell|1994|p=126}} Arbogast's domination over the emperor was to the point where, in a report that Hebblewhite characterized as "admittedly outlandish";{{sfn|Hebblewhite|2020|p=131}} the general is described as murdering Harmonius, a friend of Valentinian suspected of taking bribes, in the emperor's presence.{{Sfn | Croke | 1976 | p = 237}} Valentinian wrote to Theodosius and Ambrose complaining of his subordination to his general.<ref name="Valentinian"/>{{Sfn|Williams|Friell|1994|p=126}} In explicit rejection of his earlier Arianism, he invited Ambrose to come to Vienne to [[baptism|baptize]] him.{{sfn|McLynn|1994|p=336}}

The crisis reached a peak when Arbogast prohibited the emperor from leading the Gallic armies into Italy to oppose a barbarian threat.{{sfn|McEvoy|2013|p=113}} Valentinian, in response, formally dismissed Arbogast. The latter ignored the order, publicly tearing it up and arguing that Valentinian had not appointed him in the first place. The reality of where the power lay was openly displayed.{{Sfn|Williams|Friell|1994|p=127}}