DominateThe Dominate, also known as the late Roman Empire, is the despotic form of imperial government of the late Roman Empire. It followed the earlier period known as the Principate. Until the empire was reunited in 313, this phase is more often called the Tetrarchy. It may begin with the commencement of the reign of Diocletian in AD 284, following the Third Century Crisis of AD 235–284, and to end in the west with the fall of the Western Roman Empire in AD 476, while in the Eastern Roman Empire its end is disputed, with the majority of opinions placing it around the transition between the Justinian and Heraclian dynasties, between the years 565 and 641.
Justina (empress)Justina (Iustina; c. 340 – c. 388) was a Roman empress. She was initially the wife of the rebel emperor Magnentius (350-353) and was then married to Valentinian I (364-375), with whom she had four children, including the emperor Valentinian II (375-392) and the empress Galla (387-394). Possibly a relative of the Constantinian dynasty (293-363), she was Valentinian's second wife after Marina Severa, and step-mother of the augustus Gratian (367-383) and the mother-in-law of the augustus Theodosius I (379-395).
Valentinian IIValentinian II (Valentinianus; 371 - 15 May 392) was a Roman emperor in the western part of the Roman empire between AD 375 and 392. He was at first junior co-ruler of his brother, was then sidelined by a usurper, and only after 388 sole ruler, albeit with limited de facto powers. A son of emperor Valentinian I and empress Justina, he was raised to the imperial office at the age of 4 by military commanders upon his father's death.
