Flavius Mallius Theodorus
Encyclopedia
Flavius Mallius Theodorus (floruit 376 circa-409) was consul
of the Roman Empire
in 399
, 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
.
He came from a family of humble origin, which, nonetheless, allowed him to start the administrative career. Claudian says that Theodorus was member of the court of a Praetorian prefect
, as lawyer; historians think this was probably the Praetorian prefect of Italy, and that this office should be dated to 376. He was then governor of an African province, probably around 377, the consularis of Macedonia
(378 circa).
Next Theodorus entered in the imperial court administration, with an office that historians identify as magister memoriae and date to 379, followed in 380 by the rank of comes sacrarum largitionum
or, more probably, of comes rerum privatarum; in this office he received a law still preserved in the Codex Theodosianus
. He then become Praetorian prefect of Gaul, an office held in 382 circa, then took a political break for some years.
He allied to Stilicho
and from 397 to 399 held the post of Praetorian prefect of Illyricum, Italy and Africa (several law conserved in the Codex Theodosianus were addressed to him in this period). In 399 he also held the consulate, together with Eutropius, a powerful and hated high officer of the Eastern court, who was killed during that same year.
In 408 he held the Praetorian prefecture of Italy for the second time, but in that same year Stilicho fell in disgrace and was killed, and Theodorus' destiny becomes obscure.
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.
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
of the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
in 399
399
Year 399 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Eutropius and Theodorus...
, 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
Claudian
Claudian was a Roman poet, who worked for Emperor Honorius and the latter's general Stilicho.A Greek-speaking citizen of Alexandria and probably not a Christian convert, Claudian arrived in Rome before 395. He made his mark with a eulogy of his two young patrons, Probinus and Olybrius, thereby...
.
Biography
Theodorus' life is known in detail thanks to Claudian's panegyric.He came from a family of humble origin, which, nonetheless, allowed him to start the administrative career. Claudian says that Theodorus was member of the court of a Praetorian prefect
Praetorian prefect
Praetorian prefect was the title of a high office in the Roman Empire. Originating as the commander of the Praetorian Guard, the office gradually acquired extensive legal and administrative functions, with its holders becoming the Emperor's chief aides...
, as lawyer; historians think this was probably the Praetorian prefect of Italy, and that this office should be dated to 376. He was then governor of an African province, probably around 377, the consularis of Macedonia
Macedonia (Roman province)
The Roman province of Macedonia was officially established in 146 BC, after the Roman general Quintus Caecilius Metellus defeated Andriscus of Macedon, the last Ancient King of Macedon in 148 BC, and after the four client republics established by Rome in the region were dissolved...
(378 circa).
Next Theodorus entered in the imperial court administration, with an office that historians identify as magister memoriae and date to 379, followed in 380 by the rank of comes sacrarum largitionum
Comes sacrarum largitionum
The comes sacrarum largitionum was one of the senior fiscal officials of the late Roman Empire and the early Byzantine Empire....
or, more probably, of comes rerum privatarum; in this office he received a law still preserved in the Codex Theodosianus
Codex Theodosianus
The Codex Theodosianus was a compilation of the laws of the Roman Empire under the Christian emperors since 312. A commission was established by Theodosius II in 429 and the compilation was published in the eastern half of the Roman Empire in 438...
. He then become Praetorian prefect of Gaul, an office held in 382 circa, then took a political break for some years.
He allied to Stilicho
Stilicho
Flavius Stilicho was a high-ranking general , Patrician and Consul of the Western Roman Empire, notably of Vandal birth. Despised by the Roman population for his Germanic ancestry and Arian beliefs, Stilicho was in 408 executed along with his wife and son...
and from 397 to 399 held the post of Praetorian prefect of Illyricum, Italy and Africa (several law conserved in the Codex Theodosianus were addressed to him in this period). In 399 he also held the consulate, together with Eutropius, a powerful and hated high officer of the Eastern court, who was killed during that same year.
In 408 he held the Praetorian prefecture of Italy for the second time, but in that same year Stilicho fell in disgrace and was killed, and Theodorus' destiny becomes obscure.
Augustine and Theodorus
Augustine of HippoAugustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo , also known as Augustine, St. Augustine, St. Austin, St. Augoustinos, Blessed Augustine, or St. Augustine the Blessed, was Bishop of Hippo Regius . He was a Latin-speaking philosopher and theologian who lived in the Roman Africa Province...
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
Confessions (St. Augustine)
Confessions is the name of an autobiographical work, consisting of 13 books, by St. Augustine of Hippo, written between AD 397 and AD 398. Modern English translations of it are sometimes published under the title The Confessions of St...
, 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.