Giustina - An empress at war with St. Ambrose

There is no trace of Justina in Milan. To address the narrative about her, the second wife of Emperor Valentinian, whose history is greatly affected by the war she, an Arian Catholic, waged against the interference of Ambrose's church, we need to look at the places the Roman Empire chose as the seat of court in the 4th century AD

Justina arrived in Milan - chosen by Valentinian as the imperial capital - in 369 AD. No traces of her remain today in Milan, as if history wanted to erase her memory because of her being an Arian in a city that in Ambrose's time saw a deep division between Arians and orthodox Catholics. If Valentinian chose a neutral policy during his reign, trying to maintain a compromise between the opposing pagan and Christian factions, this was not the case for Justina, who upon Valentinian's death, becoming empress regent in place of her son Valentinian II, would engage until her death against Aurelius Ambrose, bishop of Milan since 374.

When Justina arrives with her sons in Milan, coming from Sirmio, the move does not please Bishop Ambrose, who fears, with Justina's arrival, the invasion of Arian troops. The bishop orchestrated a popular revolt and Justina moved to Aquileia while her son Valentinian II issues from Milan a constitution addressed to the praetorian prefect Eusiginius condemning Ambrose's fundamentalism and in which he granted public right of worship to Arians and the death penalty to those who oppose it. Ambrose is asked to leave Milan but refuses and provocatively invites the young emperor to transfer him ex officio if he does not fear civil war. The conflict turned bitter and resulted in Justina dying far from Milan.