 Aetius then had Bonifacius' son-in-law, Sebastianus, who had succeeded Bonifacius as "magister militum", exiled from Italy to Constantinople, bought the properties of Bonifacius, and married his widow Pelagia.From 433 to 450, Aetius was the dominant personality in the Western Empire, obtaining the rank of "magnificus vir parens patriusque noster" (5 September 435) and playing the role of "protector" of Galla Placidia and Valentinian III while the Emperor was still young.At the same time he continued to devote attention to Gaul.