‘Theodosius the Great’Flavius Theodosius(AD 347 – AD 395) Theodosius was born in Cauca in the Spanish province of Tarraconensis in AD 347. His father was Theodosius the elder, who became ‘Master of Horse’ under Valentinian. Theodosius himself also served in the army, and as a member of his father’s staff when fighting in Britain in …
Flavius Valentinianus(AD 371 – AD 392) Valentinian II was born at Treviri in AD 371, the son of Valentinian and Justina, as the half-brother to Gratian. At the death of Valentinian in AD 375, Gratian became sole emperor of the west. But within a mere five days Valentinian II, who was only four years old …
Early Italian houses grouped around the atrium, with a small garden, the so-called hortus, at the back. The classic Roman house, however, was divided into two parts. The first part grouped around the atrium, the second around the peristylium. The peristylium having developed out of the earlier hortus. The atrium and the peristylium were perfect …
In a Roman household sex was in plentiful supply. Except, so it seems, between the actual married couples. The existence of slaves in the house naturally mean that, particularly the men, but also the women (although with the risk of pregnancy and disgrace), had access to sex whenever they so required. Roman sexuality in its …
Flavius Gratianus (AD 359 – AD 383) Gratian was born at Sirmium in AD 359, the son of Valentinian and Marina Severa. Granted the position of consul by his father in AD 366, he was proclaimed co-Augustus by his father at Ambiani in AD 367. Gratian became sole emperor of the west when his father …
Flavius Julius Valens(AD ca. 328 – AD 378) Valens was born around AD 328, as the second son of a native of Cibalae in Pannonia called Gratianus. Alike his brother Valentinian he made a military career. He eventually came to serve under Julian and Jovian in the household guard. When Valentinian became ruler in AD …