Gratian (376-1 May 407) was a Romano-British usurper of the Western Roman Empire from October 406 to May 407, succeeding Marcus and preceding Flavius Constantinus Claudius.
Biography[]
Figulus Gratianus was born in Roman Britain in 376 to a family of Christian Romano-British urban aristocrats. In October 406, after the murder of the Roman Army-backed usurper Marcus by his disaffected men, the civilian official Gratian was named their new emperor, as they believed that a civilian could guarantee them higher pay. He prepared for an invasion of Vandals, Alans, and Suebi across the English Channel after they crossed the frozen Rhine to invade Western Europe; it was later speculated that Stilicho may have instigated the invasion to distract the Romano-British usurpers. The army was angered when Gratian refused to cross the Channel to fight off the barbarians, leading to them murdering him four months later and elevating Flavius Constantinus Claudius as their new leader.