As long as Italy stays untouched, things should be fine. Probably it would have been different with a different outcome at the battle of Verona.This war was definitely the most heinous for the Empire since the victory of Nepos. Long and exhausting - albeit Italy was safe and sound and this still weights a lot for the fortunes of the West.
Don’t be so sure, not every family is a happy one…The Imperial court looks stable enough even if there is a young new Emperor. The important is the internal stability will last till the end of the war.
Keep in minds a couple of things: Valens is a freshman and he is not the leader of the war. Of course his link to the imperial family means that everyone who dislike Theodosius enough would probably rally behind him. There is also the question of how both Valens and Theodosius will react to each other. Is Valens ambitious enough to try to usurp the throne? Is Theodosius like his father and grandfather, a man who relies on the members of the imperial family (both main and “cadet” branch)?Very interesting update, as always. I wonder, should Valens win this war, could we see a pro-Valens faction arise at court? Maybe someone could see him as a better candidate for the throne in these dire times of need...
Don’t forget all those people wielding enough power to influence both the emperor, Valens and the aristocracy: Anicia Eudoxia, Iulia Galla and her husband Belisarius, Serena, Eusebia and her uncle Eleutherius and finally the Eastern branch of the family (Procopius and his sons).
The next years are going to be pretty intricate.