quintus aurelius symmachus

English - English

Definition of quintus aurelius symmachus in English English dictionary

born 340 died 402, Ravenna Roman statesman, orator, and writer. A leading opponent of Christianity, he struggled with St. Ambrose to influence the increasingly Christian emperors Gratian (r. 367-383) and Valentinian II (r. 375-392) to tolerate paganism. As leader of the Senate in 387, he congratulated the new emperor, Magnus Maximus, on having driven out Valentinian. When Theodosius I reconquered Italy for Valentinian (388), Symmachus was forgiven and made consul (391)

Hyphenation

Quin·tus Au·re·li·us Sym·ma·chus