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- For the Byzantine officer, see also Eutropius (Byzantine official) (396-397). For the Saint, see Saint Eutropius.
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Introduction
Not much is known about the early life of Eutropius because there are no written texts that document his life. Eutropius should not be confused with Eutropius of Valencia or Saint Eutropius. He was known for being the historian for the emperor Valens between 364 and 378, when he wrote “Breviarium ab Urbe condita” (“History of Rome”). The original text was in Latin, then translated to Greek in 380 by Paeanius. He served in the senior post of Secretary of State for General Petitions, under the emperor Valens. There are no works that describe Eutropius other than how he was seen through the eyes of others, which describe him briefly as a half-man. This meant that at some point in his life he had his testes removed, which meant he was a eunuch; we assume this explained his feminine traits that described him. Eutropius is known for being along side Valens on his successful expeditions to Britain and Gaul between 364 and 378. He was officially named a “magister memoriae” while under Valens.
Life
Eutropius was a polytheist historian for Julian the Apostate in the late 4th century, for the expedition against Persia in 363; this is the only incontestable evidence of Eutropius’ life and career. He held the office of secretary at Constantinpole. Julian was known for being a non religious leader who wished to establish a non-confessional state. During 362 he published a law that all religions were equal before the law. During the expedition against the Sassanid Empire Julian was wounded after he charged into battle without wearing armor. He died from a spear wound to the liver. After his death Jovian was named emperor. While Jovian made peace with the Persians and headed back to Constantinpole where he later died. Then Valentinian hired Valens as co-emperor, which divided the empire into east and west. Eutropius, now a historian for Valens, dedicated his writings, “Breviarium ab Urbe condita” to him in the later 4th century.
The downfall of Eutropius was that there was opposition to him left behind from the confusion after the death of Julian. Procopius was a major influence in the eventual execution of Eutropius, as he was the leader of the army when Julian was killed; he was not present when the new ruler was named, and this lead to tension between Valens, Eutropius mentor, and Procopius. There was much controversy in Rome at the time, because religion was becoming open since the rule of Julian. As an Arian ruler, Valens put down Procopius’ revolt at the beginning of his reign as Roman ruler, and introduced Catholicism as the official faith of Rome. He later went to war against the Goths who supported Procopius’ revolt. Gainas was a Goth leader that served in eastern Rome, and it was his influence that would cause Eutropius to lose his power in the Secretariat of State. It is not exactly clear why he was exiled to Cyprus, but the recording of his death is unknown in the historical texts.
Writings
Eutropius wrote a ten-book summary of Roman history entitled Historiae romanae breviarium between the years of 350 and 370. This is his only known writing.
Impact
The importance of the ancient text is high: although Eutropius' text is known to be quite simple in Latin, (and was often used as a school primer), it recorded the important conflict between Catholic, non-catholic views and pagan beliefs. Being a eunuch in a strong catholic empire Eutropius was like a superintendent of records under the rule of Valens. He makes some errors in his writings that are only found from other sources that acknowledge the proper dates and times. It might be said that Eutropius' writings later influenced Ammianus, Jerome and even Augustine. This is extremely important because these authors contributed major texts that we use to piece together history in the 4th century and onward. Some of Eutropius’ text and pieces of his book are highly uncertain because some historians that wrote at the same period have controversial dates and writings that conflict with Eutropius. Valens hired another “magister memoriae”, but it is uncertain as to why he would have two historians writing at the same period of time. Some think that another historian was hired because the initial writings of Eutropius were too long, and needed to be shortened.
Bibliography
Primary/Secondary Sources
Eutropius. The Breviarium ab urbe condita of Eutropius, The Right Honourable Secretary of State for General Petitions, Dedicated to Lord Valens, Gothicus Maximus and Perpetual Emperor. Trans. H. W. Bird. (1993)
History of the later Roman Empire, by J.B. Bury (DG 311 B98. v.2 c.2), Dover Publications Inc. New York
Articles
• The Fall of Eutropius, by Michael Dewar. • Sources: The Classical Quarterly Vol. 40 No.2 pp. 582-584 • JSTOR
• Eutropius, by William Barr. • Sources: The Classical Review Vol. 48 No.1 pp. 37-38 • JSTOR
• Review of Eutropius, by Roger Rees • Sources: The Classical Review Vol. 48 No.1 pp. 65-67 • JSTOR
• Eutropius V. C. "Magister Memoriae?", by R.W. Burgess • Sources: Classical Philiology Vol. 96 No. 1 pp. 76-81 • JSTOR
• Eutropius Breviarium ab Urbe Condita, by Th. Mommsen • Sources: Hermes Vol. 1 No. 4 pp.468 • JSTOR
• Eutropius, by Peter K. Marshall • Sources: The Classical Review Vol. 51 No. 2 pp. 271-272 • JSTOR
External links
- Eutropius, Abridgement of Roman History, John Selby Watson (translator), (1853) (from Forum Romanum; both Latin text and English translation)
- Eutropius, Abridgement of Roman History, John Selby Watson (translator), (1886) (from The Tertullian Project; only English translation)
- Eutropius, Eutropii Breviarium (from The Latin Library; only Latin text)
- Eutropius, Eutropi Breviarium ab urbe condita cum versionibus graecis et Pauli Landolfique additamentis, Ed. Droysen, Hans. (from Monumenta Germaniae Historica Digital; Image files include the preface, Greek and Latin text, critical apparatus, appendices and indices
References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
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- This page was last modified on 23 December 2008, at 20:45.
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