Aurelius Anicius Symmachus
Encyclopedia
Anicius Aurelius Symmachus (fl. 415-420) was a politician of the Western Roman Empire
.
and of the Symmachi; he was probably a relative of Quintus Aurelius Symmachus
, perhaps the son of a brother or sister who had married a member of Anicii.
In 415 he was proconsul
of Africa; he obtained, in this capacity, the right to receive appeals.
Between 24 December 418 and January 420 he was praefectus urbi
of Rome; in this capacity he wrote to the court regarding issues related to succession to Pope Zosimus
, who had died two days after the beginning of Symmachus' office. He also restored a market in Ostia
and one of the Roman forums.
Western Roman Empire
The Western Roman Empire was the western half of the Roman Empire after its division by Diocletian in 285; the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire, commonly referred to today as the Byzantine Empire....
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Biography
He belonged to the Roman families of the AniciiAnicia (gens)
The gens Anicia was a plebeian family at Rome, mentioned first towards the end of the 4th century BC The first of the Anicii under to achieve prominence under the Republic was Lucius Anicius Gallus, who conducted the war against the Illyrii during the Third Macedonian War, in 168 BC.A noble family...
and of the Symmachi; he was probably a relative of Quintus Aurelius Symmachus
Quintus Aurelius Symmachus
Quintus Aurelius Symmachus was a Roman statesman, orator, and man of letters. He held the offices of governor of Africa in 373, urban prefect of Rome in 384 and 385, and consul in 391...
, perhaps the son of a brother or sister who had married a member of Anicii.
In 415 he was proconsul
Proconsul
A proconsul was a governor of a province in the Roman Republic appointed for one year by the senate. In modern usage, the title has been used for a person from one country ruling another country or bluntly interfering in another country's internal affairs.-Ancient Rome:In the Roman Republic, a...
of Africa; he obtained, in this capacity, the right to receive appeals.
Between 24 December 418 and January 420 he was praefectus urbi
Praefectus urbi
The praefectus urbanus or praefectus urbi, in English the urban prefect, was prefect of the city of Rome, and later also of Constantinople. The office originated under the Roman kings, continued during the Republic and Empire, and held high importance in late Antiquity...
of Rome; in this capacity he wrote to the court regarding issues related to succession to Pope Zosimus
Pope Zosimus
Pope Saint Zosimus was Pope from March 18, 417 to December 26, 418 .He succeeded Innocent I, and was followed by Boniface I. Zosimus took a decided part in the protracted dispute in Gaul as to the jurisdiction of the see of Arles over that of Vienne, giving energetic decisions in favour of the...
, who had died two days after the beginning of Symmachus' office. He also restored a market in Ostia
Ostia Antica
Ostia Antica is a large archeological site, close to the modern suburb of Ostia , that was the location of the harbour city of ancient Rome, which is approximately 30 km to the northeast. "Ostia" in Latin means "mouth". At the mouth of the River Tiber, Ostia was Rome's seaport, but, due to...
and one of the Roman forums.