The Valentinian Dynasty in the Historiae Adversus Paganos of Orosius (VII, 32-35)

Abstract

More than twenty years after the death of Valentinian II, Orosius elaborated and propagated different images for the emperors of the Valentinian dynasty. Through analyses made in the work Historiae adversus paganos, written by the presbyter in the 5th century A.D., we can get to know a little of these characters and, especially, understand the messages the author wished to transmit to his audience. Thus, the interest of this article is centred on knowing in what way, through Orósio's rhetoric, the individuals of the Valentinian dynasty were interpreted and what facts the presbyter judged to be pertinent to the writing of his book.