Valerius Pinianus

Valerius Pinianus in Jerusalem, was a member of a branch of the gens Valeria and among the richest men of his time. He was the son of a Roman praefectus urbi and also had a brother named Severus. His life is closely coupled with that of his paternal cousin and wife, Melania the Younger, whom he married sometime between 396 and 400. After their arrival in Tagaste, North Africa in 410 and Melanias mother, Augustine, bishop of Hippo, convinced the couple to dedicate a large part of their wealth to his church. In 417, the couple moved to Palestine.