De obitu Valentiniani consolatio

oration by Saint Ambrose

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 25, 2026

Quick Summary

De obitu Valentiniani consolatio is an oration by Saint Ambrose delivered in 392 CE. It serves as a funeral oration for the Roman emperor Valentinian II. In this work, Ambrose establishes a model for medieval church-state relations, presenting the Christian emperor as a subordinate to the bishop, acting "under orders from Christ." The oration reflects Ambrose's significant influence on political and religious thought during his time as bishop of Milan. Valentinian II, son of Emperor Valentinian I, was proclaimed emperor at a young age and ruled various territories of the Roman Empire.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

St. Ambrose
Ecclesiastical accomplishments
Valentinian II and Theodosius—De obitu Valentiniani consolatio (392) and De obitu Theodosii (395)—Ambrose established the medieval concept of a Christian emperor as a dutiful son of the church, “serving under orders from Christ” and so subject to the advice and strictures of his bishop.
Read More
Valentinian II and Theodosius—De obitu Valentiniani consolatio (392) and De obitu Theodosii (395)—Ambrose established the medieval concept of a Christian emperor as a dutiful son of the church, “serving under orders from Christ” and so subject to the advice and strictures of his bishop.
Read More