Gratianus Funarius facts for kids

Gratianus "Funarius" was an important Roman soldier who lived a long time ago, in the 300s AD. He was from a place called Illyria, which is now part of modern Croatia. Gratianus is famous because he was the father of two Roman emperors, Valentinian I and Valens. They started a powerful family known as the Valentinianic dynasty.

The Early Life of Gratianus

Gratianus was born in a town called Cibalae, which is now Vinkovci in Croatia. This was likely around the 280s. When he was young, people gave him a special nickname: Funarius. This means "the rope-man" in Latin. He got this name because he used to sell ropes.

Gratianus Joins the Army

Gratianus decided to join the Roman army. He was very good at his job and quickly moved up in rank. During the time of Constantine the Great, a very famous emperor, Gratianus became a protector domesticus. This was a special guard who protected the emperor. Some records suggest he might have been stationed in a city called Salona, which is now Split.

His first big leadership role was as a tribune. This meant he was in charge of a group of soldiers in Constantine's army.

Gratianus's Important Commands

Later, in the 320s or 330s, Gratianus became a comes of Africa. A comes was a high-ranking officer, often in charge of a large area or army. His job in Africa was probably to watch over the borders. However, he soon faced some trouble. He was accused of mismanaging money and had to leave the army for a while.

But Gratianus was called back to duty in the 340s. This time, he became a comes in Britannia, which is modern-day Britain. He might have led a group of soldiers called comitatenses under Emperor Constans I. This was during Constans's military trip to the island in the winter of 342 or 343 AD.

Life After the Army

After his military career, Gratianus went back to his hometown. He lived as a regular citizen and was well-respected by everyone.

Gratianus and the Emperors

Even after Gratianus retired, Emperor Constantius II (who ruled from 337 to 361 AD) took away all his land. This happened because the emperor suspected Gratianus supported a rebel named Magnentius.

Despite this, Gratianus was still very popular with the soldiers. This popularity likely helped his sons, Valentinian and Valens, become successful in their own careers. When his son Valens became emperor in 364 AD, the Senate in Constantinople honored Gratianus. They even ordered a brass statue to be made of him!