69 – This is sometimes represented as an exaggerated piece
of rhetoric on S. Ambrose’s part, not to be regarded as
representing a real truth: but it may very well do so, for
Valentinian was almost constantly occupied with wars on
the frontiers of the empire, and it does not appear from
his life that he was ever at Rome during his reign. Milan,
not Rome, was the chief seat of the Western Emperors at
this time, when they were not with their armies.
70 – The Præfectus Urbi at this time ‘was regarded as the
direct representative of the Emperor,’ and, among other
duties, ‘he had every month to make a report to the
Emperor of the transactions of the Senate,’ and also
was ‘the medium through which the Emperors received the
petitions and presents from their capital.’ Dict. of Ant.
sub voc.
71 – By the ‘late emperor’ is meant Julian; ‘his successor’ is
Valentinian the 1st, and ‘last Emperors’ are Valentinian
the 1st and Valens.