Editing Valentinian III (section)

==Character and legacy==
[[File:Attila il flagello di Dio (1954) Claude Laydu.png|thumb|Valentinian portrayed by [[Claude Laydu]] in ''[[Attila (1954 film)|Attila]]'']]
Valentinian's reign is marked by the dismemberment of the Western Empire; by the time of his death, virtually all of North Africa, all of western Spain, and the majority of Gaul had passed out of Roman hands. He is described as spoiled, pleasure-loving, and heavily influenced by sorcerers and astrologers, but also devoted to religion, contributing to churches of [[Saint Lawrence]] in both Rome and Ravenna.<ref>[http://www.roman-emperors.org/valenIII.htm Ralph W. Mathisen, "Valentinian III (425–455 A.D)"]</ref>

Some historians throughout 18th to 20th century, including [[Edward Gibbon]] and [[J. B. Bury|John Bagnall Bury]], had unfavourable views of Valentinian III.{{sfn|Gibbon|1825|loc=Ch. XXXV "He faithfully imitated the hereditary weakness of his cousin and his two uncles, without inheriting the gentleness, the purity, the innocence, which alleviate in their characters the want of spirit and ability. Valentinian was less excusable, since he had passions without virtues: even his religion was questionable; and though he never deviated into the paths of heresy, he scandalised the pious Christians by his attachment to the profane arts of magic and divination."}}{{sfn|Bury|1924|loc=418–419 "Though he had ruled for thirty years, Valentinian had influenced the destinies of his empire even less than his uncle Honorius. He only flashed once into action, when, piqued by the presumption of Aetius in aspiring to connect himself with the imperial family, he struck him down. He thought he had slain his master; he found that he had slain his protector: and he fell a helpless victim to the first conspiracy which was hatched against his throne."}}