CHAPTER XII

DEATH OF GRATIAN.—TYRANNY OF MAXIMUS

THE above incidents occurred during the reign of Gratian. After having rendered himself redoubtable in war, and distinguished himself by the clemency and justice of his administration, he fell in a conspiracy which had been raised against him, leaving no children to inherit the empire. His brother, a very young man bearing the name of his father, was his only heir. Maximus contemned the extreme youth of Valentinian, and seized the empire of the West.