Which Roman emperor is associated with the martyrdom of Saint Valentine?

The Roman emperor associated with the martyrdom of Saint Valentine is Claudius II, also known as Claudius Gothicus.

According to the traditional account, Valentine was a Christian priest or clergyman in Rome who was brought before Emperor Claudius II after continuing to preach Christianity. Valentine refused to renounce his faith, and the story says that he was beaten and beheaded, traditionally on 14 February 269.

The historical details are uncertain. Contemporary records do not securely document the trial, and the surviving martyrdom narrative was written centuries after the supposed events. The legend is also frequently expanded with the claim that Claudius banned marriages for young men and that Valentine secretly performed Christian weddings; that detail is not firmly supported by early evidence.

Claudius II ruled from 268 to 270 during a turbulent period of Roman history and is better documented as a military emperor than as a persecutor specifically associated with Valentine. “Claudius” can therefore be confusing: the tradition points to Claudius II, not the earlier emperor Claudius I. The saint’s feast day later became linked with courtly love and modern Valentine’s Day.