Flavius Mallius Theodorus (fl. c. 376–409) was a Roman politician and author of an extant treatise on metres, De metris, one of the best of its kind (H. Keil, Grammatici Latini, vi.). He also studied philosophy, astronomy and geometry, and wrote works on those subjects, which, together with his consulship, formed the subject of a panegyric by Claudian.[1]
Theodorus' life is known in detail thanks to Claudian's panegyric, Panegyricus dictus Manlio Theodoro consuli.
He came from a family of humble origin, which, nonetheless, allowed him to start an administrative career. Claudian says that Theodorus was member of the court of a Praetorian prefect, as lawyer;[2] historians think this was probably the Praetorian prefect of Italy, and that this office should be dated to 376.[3] He was then governor of an African province,[4] probably around 377,[3] followed by consularis of Macedonia[5] (c. 378).[3]
He allied to Stilicho[10] and from 397 to 399 held the post of Praetorian prefect of Illyricum, Italy and Africa (several laws conserved in the Codex Theodosianus were addressed to him in this period).[3] In 399 he also held the consulate, together with Eutropius,[11] a powerful and hated high officer of the Eastern court, who was killed that same year.
Augustine and Theodorus
Augustine of Hippo knew Theodorus. When he converted to Christianity, Augustine wrote a book, On blessed life, which he dedicated to Theodorus. Theodorus, who at the time had retired from the court, was one of the Christian platonic intellectuals that Augustine met in Milan.
When, in 397, he wrote the Confessions, Augustine had changed his mind on Theodorus, who now was Praetorian prefect of Italy: Augustine described Theodorus as "a man inflated with monstrous pride" and despised his own admiration of him years before.[12]
^Robert Austin Markus, The end of ancient Christianity, Cambridge University Press, 1990, ISBN0-521-33949-9, pp. 29-30.
References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Theodorus, Flavius Mallius". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 26 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 769.
Arnold Hugh Martin Jones, John Robert Martindale, J. Morris, "Flavius Mallius Theodorus 27", The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire: A.D. 260-395, Cambridge University Press, 1971, ISBN0-521-07233-6, pp. 900–2.
flavius, mallius, theodorus, roman, politician, author, extant, treatise, metres, metris, best, kind, keil, grammatici, latini, also, studied, philosophy, astronomy, geometry, wrote, works, those, subjects, which, together, with, consulship, formed, subject, p. Flavius Mallius Theodorus fl c 376 409 was a Roman politician and author of an extant treatise on metres De metris one of the best of its kind H Keil Grammatici Latini vi He also studied philosophy astronomy and geometry and wrote works on those subjects which together with his consulship formed the subject of a panegyric by Claudian 1 Contents 1 Biography 2 Augustine and Theodorus 3 Notes 4 ReferencesBiography EditTheodorus life is known in detail thanks to Claudian s panegyric Panegyricus dictus Manlio Theodoro consuli He came from a family of humble origin which nonetheless allowed him to start an administrative career Claudian says that Theodorus was member of the court of a Praetorian prefect as lawyer 2 historians think this was probably the Praetorian prefect of Italy and that this office should be dated to 376 3 He was then governor of an African province 4 probably around 377 3 followed by consularis of Macedonia 5 c 378 3 Next Theodorus entered in the imperial court administration 6 with an office that historians identify as magister memoriae and date to 379 3 followed in 380 by the rank of comes sacrarum largitionum 7 or more probably of comes rerum privatarum 3 in this office he received a law preserved in the Codex Theodosianus 8 He then became Praetorian prefect of Gaul 9 an office held in c 382 3 then took a break for some years He allied to Stilicho 10 and from 397 to 399 held the post of Praetorian prefect of Illyricum Italy and Africa several laws conserved in the Codex Theodosianus were addressed to him in this period 3 In 399 he also held the consulate together with Eutropius 11 a powerful and hated high officer of the Eastern court who was killed that same year Augustine and Theodorus EditAugustine of Hippo knew Theodorus When he converted to Christianity Augustine wrote a book On blessed life which he dedicated to Theodorus Theodorus who at the time had retired from the court was one of the Christian platonic intellectuals that Augustine met in Milan When in 397 he wrote the Confessions Augustine had changed his mind on Theodorus who now was Praetorian prefect of Italy Augustine described Theodorus as a man inflated with monstrous pride and despised his own admiration of him years before 12 Notes Edit Chisholm 1911 Claudian 21 23 a b c d e f g Jones Claudian Panegyricus 24 Claudian Panegyricus 28 29 Claudian Panegyricus 33 36 Claudian Panegyricus 38 41 Codex Theodosianus IX 16 12 dated to March 18 380 Claudian Panegyricus 47 53 Claudian Panegyricus 161 162 CIL VI 1715 Robert Austin Markus The end of ancient Christianity Cambridge University Press 1990 ISBN 0 521 33949 9 pp 29 30 References Edit This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Theodorus Flavius Mallius Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 26 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 769 Arnold Hugh Martin Jones John Robert Martindale J Morris Flavius Mallius Theodorus 27 The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire A D 260 395 Cambridge University Press 1971 ISBN 0 521 07233 6 pp 900 2 Political officesPreceded bySiburius Praetorian prefect of Gaul382 383 Succeeded byEuodiusPreceded byEusebius Praetorian prefect of Italy397 399 Succeeded byValerius Messala AvienusPreceded byHonorius IVEutychianus Roman consul399with Eutropius Succeeded byStilichoAurelianus Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Flavius Mallius Theodorus amp oldid 1051285167, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
