Grātiānus

, a native of Pannonia, father to the emperor Val ent in i an  I. He was raised to the throne, though only eight years old; and after he had reigned for some time conjointly with his father, he became sole emperor in the 16th year of his age. He soon after took, as his imperial colleague, Theodosius, whom he appointed over the eastern parts of the empire. His courage in the field was as remarkable as his love of learning, and fondne of philosophy. He slaughtered 30,000 Germans in a battle, and supported the tottering state by his prudence and intrepidity. His enmity to the Pagan superstition of his subjects proved his ruin; and Maximin us, who undertook the defence of the worship of Jupiter and of all the gods, was joined by an infinite number of discontented Romans, and met Gratian near Paris in Gaul. Gratian was forsaken by his troops in the field of battle, and was murdered by the rebels, A.D. 383, in the 24th year of his age.――A Roman soldier, invested with the imperial purple by the rebellious army in Britain, in opposition to Honor i us. He was a a inated four months after by those very troops to whom he owed his elevation, A.D. 407.