Gratianus originated from the town of Cibalae (Vinkovci), in southern Pannonia Secunda (modern Croatia), possibly in the 280s.[1] During his youth, he obtained the nickname Funarius, meaning "the rope-man" because he was a ropesalesman. Gratianus joined the army and rose through the ranks to become protector domesticus during the reign of Constantine the Great.[2] A protector domesticus named "...atianus" is attested at Salona (Split) during this time, leading some to think Gratianus could have been stationed there.[2] Gratian's first independent command was as a tribune, probably in the mobile field army of Constantine.[2] During the late 320's or early 330's he was made comes of Africa, possibly to supervise the frontier.[3][4] However, Gratianus was soon accused of embezzlement and was forced to retire.[5] Gratianus was recalled during the early 340s and was made comes of Britannia. He may have been recalled to command a unit of comitatenses under emperor Constans I during his campaign on the island in the winter of 342/3.[5][4] After his military career ended, Gratianus returned to his birthplace and lived as a private citizen with good reputation.[6]
In Gratian's retirement, the emperor Constantius II confiscated all of his estates because of his suspected support of the usurperMagnentius.[7] Nevertheless, he was still popular within the army; this popularity could have contributed to the successful careers of his sons.[8]
His death is not mentioned in literary sources. The PLRE cites as inscription dedicated to him, dated to the year 367 at the latest, and presumes he was dead by that time.[9] Drijvers additionally observed that, since his grandson of the same name was not named in the inscription, the elder Gratian must have died before his grandson’s accession in August 24, 367.[10] After his son Valens became emperor, the Senate in Constantinople decreed a brass statue of him.[9]
Drijvers, Jan Willem (2015). "AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS 30.7.2-3: OBSERVATIONS ON THE CAREER OF GRATIANUS MAIOR". Historia. 64 (4): 479–486. JSTOR 45019208.
Hughes, Ian (5 August 2013). Imperial Brothers: Valentinian, Valens and the Disaster at Adrianople. Pen and Sword. ISBN978-1-4738-2863-6.
Lenski, Noel Emmanuel (2002). Failure of empire: Valens and the Roman state in the fourth century A.D. University of California Press. ISBN978-0-520-23332-4. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
Tomlin, R. S. (1973), The Emperor Valentinian I, OCLC 163531986
Williams, Stephen; Friell, Gerard (1994). Theodosius: The Empire at Bay. Yale University Press. ISBN978-0-300-07447-5.
Further readingedit
Roberts, Walter E. (10 August 2010). "Valentinian I (364-375 A.D)". De Imperitoribus Romanis. Roman Emperors.
Rodgers, N. (2005). The History and Conquests of Ancient Rome. Hermes House. ISBN9780681643031.
Smith, William (1870). . Vol. 2. p. 301. Archived from the original on 16 May 2006 – via The Ancient Library.
April 23, 2024
gratianus, funarius, gratianus, funarius, century, illyrian, soldier, roman, empire, flourished, century, father, roman, emperors, valentinian, valens, founders, valentinianic, dynasty, gratianusborncibalae, pannonia, secundadiedbefore, august, 367issuevalenti. Gratianus Funarius fl 4th century AD was an Illyrian soldier of the Roman Empire who flourished in the 4th century He was the father of Roman emperors Valentinian I and Valens founders of the Valentinianic dynasty GratianusBornCibalae Pannonia SecundaDiedbefore 24 August 367IssueValentinian I ValensDynastyValentinianic Contents 1 Life 2 Family tree 3 Sources 3 1 Works cited 4 Further readingLife editGratianus originated from the town of Cibalae Vinkovci in southern Pannonia Secunda modern Croatia possibly in the 280s 1 During his youth he obtained the nickname Funarius meaning the rope man because he was a rope salesman Gratianus joined the army and rose through the ranks to become protector domesticus during the reign of Constantine the Great 2 A protector domesticus named atianus is attested at Salona Split during this time leading some to think Gratianus could have been stationed there 2 Gratian s first independent command was as a tribune probably in the mobile field army of Constantine 2 During the late 320 s or early 330 s he was made comes of Africa possibly to supervise the frontier 3 4 However Gratianus was soon accused of embezzlement and was forced to retire 5 Gratianus was recalled during the early 340s and was made comes of Britannia He may have been recalled to command a unit of comitatenses under emperor Constans I during his campaign on the island in the winter of 342 3 5 4 After his military career ended Gratianus returned to his birthplace and lived as a private citizen with good reputation 6 In Gratian s retirement the emperor Constantius II confiscated all of his estates because of his suspected support of the usurper Magnentius 7 Nevertheless he was still popular within the army this popularity could have contributed to the successful careers of his sons 8 His death is not mentioned in literary sources The PLRE cites as inscription dedicated to him dated to the year 367 at the latest and presumes he was dead by that time 9 Drijvers additionally observed that since his grandson of the same name was not named in the inscription the elder Gratian must have died before his grandson s accession in August 24 367 10 After his son Valens became emperor the Senate in Constantinople decreed a brass statue of him 9 Family tree editvteSimplified Valentian family tree 11 12 Gratianus Valens Emp 1 Marina SeveraValentinian I Emp 2 Justina Gratian Emp Valentinian II Emp 2 GallaTheodosius I Emp 1 Aelia Flaccilla Constantius III Emp Galla PlacidiaSerenaStilicho Aelia EudoxiaArcadius Emp Pulcheria Licinia EudoxiaValentinian III Emp PulcheriaHonorius Emp MariaEucherius PlacidiaOlybrius Emp Sources edit Lenski 2002 p 46 a b c Tomlin 1973 p 2 Tomlin 1973 p 3 a b Hughes 2013 p 7 a b Tomlin 1973 p 4 Tomlin 1973 p 5 Hughes 2013 p 8 Drijvers 2015 p 480 a b Jones Martindale amp Morris p 401 Drijvers 2015 p 485 486 Kienast et al 2017 p 355 Williams amp Friell 1994 p 189 Works cited edit Drijvers Jan Willem 2015 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS 30 7 2 3 OBSERVATIONS ON THE CAREER OF GRATIANUS MAIOR Historia 64 4 479 486 JSTOR 45019208 Hughes Ian 5 August 2013 Imperial Brothers Valentinian Valens and the Disaster at Adrianople Pen and Sword ISBN 978 1 4738 2863 6 Kienast Dietmar Eck Werner Heil Matthaus 2017 1990 Romische Kaisertabelle Grundzuge einer romischen Kaiserchronologie in German 6 ed Darmstadt Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft ISBN 978 3 534 26724 8 Jones A H M J R Martindale amp J Morris 1971 Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire Vol 1 Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 07233 6 Lenski Noel Emmanuel 2002 Failure of empire Valens and the Roman state in the fourth century A D University of California Press ISBN 978 0 520 23332 4 Retrieved 12 October 2010 Tomlin R S 1973 The Emperor Valentinian I OCLC 163531986 Williams Stephen Friell Gerard 1994 Theodosius The Empire at Bay Yale University Press ISBN 978 0 300 07447 5 Further reading editRoberts Walter E 10 August 2010 Valentinian I 364 375 A D De Imperitoribus Romanis Roman Emperors Rodgers N 2005 The History and Conquests of Ancient Rome Hermes House ISBN 9780681643031 Smith William 1870 Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology Vol 2 p 301 Archived from the original on 16 May 2006 via The Ancient Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gratianus Funarius amp oldid 1193422158, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
