Valentinian III
Early Life
Valentinian III, born as Placidus Valentinianus on July 2, 419, was the son of Galla Placidia, the half-sister of Roman Emperors Honorius and Arcadius, and Constantius III, a high-ranking general in the Roman army. He was named after his maternal grandfather, the Emperor Valentinian I.
Ascension to the Throne
Valentinian III was proclaimed Emperor of the Western Roman Empire in 425, at the tender age of six, following the death of his father Constantius III. His mother, Galla Placidia, acted as regent during his minority, effectively ruling the Western Roman Empire.
Reign
Valentinian III's reign was marked by a series of invasions by various barbarian tribes, including the Vandals, the Visigoths, and the Huns. The Empire was also plagued by internal strife and political instability. Despite these challenges, Valentinian III managed to maintain a semblance of stability and order in the Western Roman Empire.
Later Years and Death
In his later years, Valentinian III became increasingly unpopular due to his perceived weakness and inability to effectively deal with the Empire's problems. He was assassinated on March 16, 455, in a plot orchestrated by the senator Petronius Maximus, who subsequently proclaimed himself Emperor.
Legacy
Valentinian III's reign is often seen as the beginning of the end for the Western Roman Empire. Despite his efforts to maintain stability, the Empire continued to decline and would eventually fall just a few decades after his death. However, his reign also saw the codification of Roman law, a significant achievement that would have a lasting impact on the legal systems of many modern nations.