GRATIA'NUS, AUGUSTUS, eldest son of Valentinian I., sue evaded after his father's death, A.D. 375, to a share of the Western Empire, haviog for his let Gaul, Spain, and Britain; his brother Valentinian 11., then an infant five years old, had Italy, Illyricum, and Africa, under the guardianship however of Gratianue, who was therefore in reality ruler of all the West. His uncle Valens had the Empire of the East. Gratianus began his reign by punishing severely various pnefects and other officer, who had committed acts of oppression and cruelty during his father's reign. At the same time, through some insidious charges, Count Theodosius, father of Theodo sius the Great, and one of the most illustrious neon of his age, was beheaded at Carthage. In the year 378 Valens perished in the battle of Adrianople against the Gotha, and Gmtianua, who was hastening to his assistance, was hardly able to save Constantinople from falling Into the hands of the enemy. In consequence of the death of his uncle, Gratiaraus, finding himself ruler of the whole Roman empire during the minority of his brother Valentinian, called to him young Theodosius, who bad distinguished himself iu the Roman armies, but had retired Into Spain after his father's death. Gmtianus sent him against the Sarmatians, who had crossed the Danube to join the Gotha. Theodealue defeated them completely, and drove the remainder beyond that river. Gratlanus then appointed him his colleague (in January 379), a choice wise and disinterested In the former, equally creditable to both, and fortunate for the empire, and gave him tho provinces of the East. Gratieuus returned to Italy, and resided some time at Milan, where he became intimate with Bishop Ambrose. He was obliged however soon after to hasten to Illyrieum to the assist ance of Theodosius, and he repelled the Goths, who were threatening Throce. From thence he was obliged to hasten to the banks of the Rhine to fight the Alemannl and other barbarians. Having returned to Milan in the year 881, he had to defend the frontiers of Italy from other tribes who were advancing on the Bide of Ithretia, and he ordered fresh levies of men and horses for the purpose. Gratisnus enacted several wise laws : by one of them he checked mendicity, which had spread to an alarming extent in Italy; and he ordered all beggars to be arrested, and, If slaves by coudition to be given up as each to those who denounced them; if freemen, be employed in cultivating the land. He also showed himself disposed to tolerance
towards the various sects which divided Christianity ; but he displayed a stern determination agaiust the remains of the Heathen worship. At Home he overthrew the altar of Victory, which continued to exist ; lie confiscated the property attached to it, as well as all the property belonging to the other priests and the Vestals. Ile also refused to assume the title and the insignia of Pontifex Maximus, a dignity till then coeaidered se annexed to that of emperor, Thcso measures gave a final blow to the old worship of the empire; and although the senator, who for the most part were still attached to it, cent him a deputation, at the head of which was Symmachus, they could not obtain any mitigation of his decrees.
Under the consulship of Marebandus and Saturninue In 883, a certain Maximus revolted in Triton:, sad was proclaimed emperor by the soldiers, to whom he promised to re-establish the temples and the old religion of the empire. Ile Invaded Gaul, where he found numerous partisans. Gretianne, who was thou, according to come, on the Rhine, advanced to meet him. But hu appears by an unbecoming indulgence in idle amusements to bare disgusted the army, and ha now found himself forsaken by most of his troops, and obliged to hasten towsrde Italy. Greeks mat others however state that the emperor received the trews of the revolt while in Italy, and that he hurried across the Alps with a small retinue as far as Lyon. All however agree in raying that ho was seized at Lyon and put to death by the partisans of Mealtime. St. Ambrose, who ventured from Milan to the camp of Maximus to beg tho body of his imperi d friend, was refused; but eo:ue time afterwards the remains of Gretianus were traneferred to Milan, where they were interred. lie was little more than twenty-four years of age, and had reigned about eight years. The historians agree in praising him for his justice and kiud nuts, and his zeal for the publio good; and Anunianus Marcellinus, who is not liable to the charge of partiality towards the Christians, wide, that had he lived longer, ho would have rivalled the Lost emperors of ancient Rome.