Child emperors in Rome or the domestification of an exceptionMaver, Aleš (Avtor) monarchsRomechild monarchsdynastic legitimacysuccession4th cent.Child or underage rulers were not uncommon in ancient times, and can be found in almost all ancient cultures. The decisive step in “domesticating the exception” was taken by Valentinian I, the founder of a short-lived Roman dynasty. In AD 367, he immediately appointed his eight-year-old son Gratian as Augustus, the “higher” ruler (albeit in his own, western half of the empire). Valentinian’s seed fell on fertile ground. It was adopted by other rulers and associates of his and Theodosius’ dynasty, who rushed to appoint young descendants as Augusti. Valentinian’s younger son, Gratian’s half-brother and Valens’ nephew Valentinian II, can be considered the prototype of the late antique child emperor. His reign combined all the negative features of this model of government. The trend established by Gratian and Valentinian II continued for some time in both halves of the empire. Despite the fact that the appearance of child emperors in the fifth century seemed much more common than a century earlier, late antique writers remained reserved about it.Slovenska akademija znanosti in umetnosti20252026-07-03 03:09:44Znanstveno delo98721sl