 The loss of these territories seriously impacted the state's ability to function.The burden of taxation became more and more intolerable as Rome's power decreased, and the loyalty of its remaining provinces was seriously impaired in consequence.In addition, the initial period of Valentinian's reign was dominated by the struggle among the leaders of the three principal army groups of the west – Flavius Felix, the senior "Magister militum praesentalis", Bonifacius, the "Magister militum per Africam" and Flavius Aetius, the "Magister militum per Gallias".