Hello, and welcome to the history of Rome.

Episode 157 Only the Pentateon Man shall pass.

In late 387 AD, the 12-year-old Emperor Valentini in the second, his mother Justina, and the

rest of the Milan court, showed up in Thessalonica begging Theodosius for asylum.

The Eastern Augustus, aware that his brother Emperor had been put to flight by the Usurper

Maximus, had traveled down to the port city in advance, and received the exile court

with open arms, promising to do everything he could to restore Valentinian power.

But not just out of the goodness of his heart.

The price for Theodosius' help was the hand of Valentinian sister Gala in marriage.

The Eastern Augustus' first wife, Elia Flasilla, mother of the two future emperors Arcadius

and Hanoius, had died in 385, and Theodosius was looking for a marital alliance that would

bind his clan to the Valentinians, forming a single intertwined dynasty.

The price seemed reasonable enough to the Empress Justina, and the marriage was hastily arranged.

Emerging from the wedding ceremony is a single political unit.

With Theodosian, Valentinian dynasty, then prepared for war.

Maximus had timed his attack on Italy perfectly, waiting until the last minute before winner

sent in to Pounce.

By the time Theodosius learned of the attack, it was too late in the year for the Eastern

Augustus to do anything about it.

He would have to wait until Spring, which meant that Maximus had bought himself six months

to get his house in order, and ready his troops for an inevitable counterattack.

The General had already laid the groundwork for defending Italy during his initial invasion,

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