Fourth Century
Jovian, Valentinian I and Valens

Jovian, Valentinian I and Valens
Jovian favored Christianity during his short rule (only a few months), but he maintained the Arian toleration policies of Julian. He was never popular (mostly because he signed a shameful peace treaty with Persia when he took the throne) and died under suspicious circumstances at age 33. However, his Christian identity must not have been too controversial because the army coalesced in support of two Christian brothers to replace him: Valentinian I and Valens. Once again, the sources make it clear that several options (both Pagan and Christian) were discussed before these two were chosen - faith was not the deciding factor.

The two brothers quickly divided the Empire (in the same way Diocletian had in his Tetrarchy). Valentinian I ruled the West from bases in Milan and Trier, 364-375. Although baptized as a Nicene Christian, Valentinian openly supported religious toleration across the board, which won him much support among the majority pagan Western empire but also frustrated many in the Nicene clergy. Valentinian also took steps to tighten the link between clerics' duties and their government benefits. He limited the rights of clergy who were receiving government benefits. They were not allowed to personally inherit property. Willing property was a primary way that Christians gave to the Church, and Valentinian wanted a clean line between the bishop and the Episcopate. He also made some church properties (secondary properties) liable for taxation depending on use.

Valens ruled the east from the (newly completed) city of Constantinople, 364-378. He was baptized as an Arian. There is an argument to be made that the cross-membership of the two brothers in different Christian sects was politically expedient. Valens conversion meant that an Arian bishop of Constantinople wielded an important state role. Like his brother, Valens favored religious toleration. He ignored most religious issues, but did persecute a few Nicene Bishops (including Athanasius of Alexandria) who were vocally opposed to tolerating Arians and stirred up public dissent.

The death of Valens is an important moment in the history of the church. He died in battle at Adrianople in 378. After allowing non-Roman Gothic tribes to move into the Balkans, the Roman troops mistreated them and drove them to revolt. The rebels ravaged northern Greece. Valens did not trust the new Western emperor, Gratian (the 19 year old son of Valentinian), and unwisely attacked the Gothic tribes without reinforcements from the West and was killed.

This left a dangerous vacuum of leadership in the East. In the West, Gratian's government was a collection of military and civil officials appointed by his (Nicene) father Valentinian. The young emperor also had an infant half-brother who could be placed on the throne if Gratian proved disagreeable. It is probably wise to see his policies as coming from a collection of powerful Nicene figures in his court rather than viewing his leadership as his own personal choices.

Around 379AD the staunchly Nicene general Theodosius was appointed as Gratian's co-emperor in the East. This represents yet another political/religious pendulum swing in the history of Christianity.