Editing Valentinian I (section)

=== Revolt in Africa and crises on the Danube ===
[[File:Missorio di valentiniano I, argento, 364-75 ca., dall'arve, 02.JPG|thumb|right|Heavily-worn silver ''missorium'' (ca. 364–375) believed to depict Valentinian I. Flanked by infantry soldiers, the armoured and haloed emperor holds a [[labarum]] in one hand and an orb surmounted by a figure of Victory in the other]]
In 372, the rebellion of [[Firmus (4th century usurper)|Firmus]] broke out in the still-devastated African provinces. This rebellion was driven by the corruption of the ''comes'' Romanus. Romanus took sides in the murderous disputes among the legitimate and illegitimate children of Nubel, a Moorish prince and leading Roman client in Africa. Resentment of Romanus's personal use of public funds and his failure to defend the province from desert nomads caused some of the provincials to revolt. Valentinian sent in Theodosius to restore imperial control. Over the following two years Theodosius uncovered Romanus' crimes, arrested him and his supporters, and defeated both Firmus and the African tribes like the [[Abanni]] and [[Caprarienses]] that supported him.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Desanges |first=J. |title=Encyclopédie berbère |year=1984 |volume=1 |pages=56}}</ref>

In 373, hostilities erupted with the [[Quadi]], a group of Germanic-speaking people living on the upper Danube. Like the Alamanni, the Quadi were outraged that Valentinian was building fortifications in their territory. They complained and sent deputations to the ''magister armorum per Illyricum'' Aequitius, who promised to refer the matter to Valentinian. However, the increasingly influential minister Maximinus, now praetorian prefect of Gaul, blamed Aequitius to Valentinian for the trouble, and managed to have him promote his son Marcellianus to finish the project.<ref>Gibbon, p. 894</ref> The protests of Quadic leaders continued to delay the project, and to put an end to their clamor Marcellianus murdered the Quadic king [[Gabinius (king)|Gabinius]] at a banquet ostensibly arranged for peaceful negotiations. This roused the Quadi to war, along with their allies the Sarmatians. During the fall, they crossed the Danube and began ravaging the province of [[Pannonia Valeria]]. The marauders could not penetrate the fortified cities, but they heavily damaged the unprotected countryside. Two legions were sent in but failed to coordinate and were routed by the Sarmatians. Meanwhile, another group of Sarmatians invaded [[Moesia]], but were driven back by the son of Theodosius, ''Dux Moesiae'' and later emperor [[Theodosius I|Theodosius]].

Valentinian did not receive news of these crises until late 374. The following spring he set out from Trier and arrived at [[Carnuntum]], which was deserted. There he was met by Sarmatian envoys who begged forgiveness for their actions. Valentinian replied that he would investigate what had happened and act accordingly. Valentinian ignored Marcellianus’ treacherous actions and decided to punish the Quadi. He was accompanied by Sebastianus and [[Merobaudes (magister peditum)|Merobaudes]], and spent the summer months preparing for the campaign. In the fall he crossed the Danube at [[Aquincum]] into Quadi territory.<ref>Ammianus Marcellinus, ''Res Gestae'' XXX.5.13</ref> After pillaging Quadi lands without opposition, he retired to [[Szombathely|Savaria]] to winter quarters.<ref>Ammianus Marcellinus, ''Res Gestae'' XXX.5.14</ref>

==== Death ====
Without waiting for the spring, Valentinian decided to continue campaigning and moved from Savaria to [[Szony|Brigetio]]. He arrived on 17 November 375 and had a hostile meeting with a Quadi deputation,{{sfn|Curran|1998|p=86}} who received permission for their people to leave in peace in return for supplying fresh recruits to the Roman army. The envoys insisted that the conflict was caused by the building of Roman forts in their lands. They added that individual bands of Quadi, not affiliated with the chiefs who had made the treaties, might still attack the Romans at any time. Enraged, Valentinian began yelling abuse at the envoys and suffered a fatal stroke.{{sfn|Lenski|2003|p=142}} As was the custom, he was [[deified]], becoming known as {{Langx|la|Divus Valentinianus Senior|links=no|lit=the Divine Valentinian the Elder}}.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Tragedy of Empire: From Constantine to the Destruction of Roman Italy |first=Michael |last=Kulikowski |publisher=Harvard University Press |year=2019 |isbn=978-0674660137}}</ref>