Valentinian III

Valentinian III became western Roman emperor as a child in AD 425, with his mother Galla Placidia initially exercising authority. His long reign depended heavily on generals such as Aetius while the western empire lost territory to Vandals and other powers.

Valentinian ruled for three decades but spent much of his reign under the influence of powerful relatives and generals, especially his mother Galla Placidia and the commander Aëtius. The western government faced Vandal expansion in North Africa, Hunnic pressure and repeated struggles among military factions. In 454 Valentinian killed Aëtius, and the emperor himself was assassinated the following year, deepening the political instability of the Western Empire.

Ian Hughes’ Aetius presents Valentinian III as the emperor under whom Aëtius accumulates military power, culminating in the ruler’s personal killing of his general in 454. Faith L. Justice’s Twilight Empress follows Galla Placidia as mother and political protector of the young Valentinian during the unstable government of the western court. Hughes’ Gaiseric examines the emperor’s diplomacy with the Vandals and the dynastic crisis that develops around Africa and the imperial family. Patricians and Emperors begins from Valentinian’s assassination in 455 and traces the rapid succession of western rulers that follows. Nick Holmes’ Rome and Attila places Valentinian alongside Aëtius in the final struggle to manage Hunnic pressure before the deaths of emperor, general and Attila open a new phase of instability.