Valerius Pinianus was a wealthy Roman monk who lived in Jerusalem during the early 5th century. Born into the prominent gens Valeria, he was the son of a Roman urban prefect. He was married to his paternal cousin, Melania the Younger, between 396 and 400. After traveling to North Africa, the couple was encouraged by Augustine, the bishop of Hippo, to donate much of their significant fortune to the church. They eventually relocated to Palestine around 417.