Valentine´s day by Candida Linhares

According to these legends, Emperor Claudius II wanted to build one of the most fierce armies in the world. From his observations, he got the impression that soldiers who are single, without a wife and children, fight better. He reasoned that soldiers with families would be more cautious and reluctant to fight, which is not what he wanted. So, he banned all marriages and engagements in Rome.

Valentine was a brave priest who believed this action was unjust and rebelled against the Emperor by continuing to perform marriages in secret. Unfortunately, he was discovered, imprisoned, and sentenced to death by Emperor Claudius II.

Some of the legends also tell an interesting story about his time in prison, although it’s not clear whether it’s about the same priest or completely another person named Valentine. According to the legend, the priest fell in love with a young girl who came to visit him in prison (probably the jailor’s daughter), and wrote her a letter that was signed “From Your Valentine.”

This second part of the legend is most likely about Geoffrey Chaucer (for whom we’ll talk further in the article) that somehow throughout the years merged with the legend of the Roman priest who was executed on February 14th somewhere around the year 240.

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