Quintus Aurelius Memmius Symmachus
Encyclopedia
Quintus Aurelius Memmius Symmachus (died 526) was a Roman aristocrat and a historian of the 6th century. Prominent during his lifetime for as a patron of secular learning, consul
for the year 485, and for his support of Pope Symmachus
in the schism over his election, Memmius Symmachus was executed with his son-in-law Boethius
after being charged with treason.
, one of the most rich and influential senatorial families in Rome; his father, Quintus Aurelius Symmachus
, had been consul in 446. Memmius Symmachus had three daughters (Rusticiana, Galla
and Proba) and adopted the young Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius when his father died; later Boethius married Rusticiana, and the couple had two sons, Symmachus
and Boethius
, both consuls in 522. Memmius Symmachus civil offices included being appointed sole consul for 485, the third known member of his family to hold this office.
Although Symmachus was the head of a family with a long connection with Pagan tradition -- his grandfather Quintus Aurelius Symmachus
delivered a famous speech urging the return of the Altar of Victory
to the Roman Senate House
-- he was an ardent Christian, interested both in theological disputes and, more prosaically, in the struggles for the control of the Pope; during and after the disputed election of Pope Symmachus, he and Anicius Probus Faustus Niger were the only two Senators known to support the pope against his more popular rival, Laurentius
.
Symmachus cultivated the ancient Roman culture, writing a Roman history in seven volumes; this work has been lost except for a section quoted by Jordanes
in his Romana. Symmachus' wealth enabled his patronage
: he was involved in publication of the Commentarii in Somnium Scipionis by Macrobius Ambrosius Theodosius, and there is even a copy of the work corrected by his hand.
For the most part, Symmachus maintained good relationships with the new rulers of Italy -- both Odovacer and Theodoric the Great
-- demonstrated by his appointment as praefectus urbi
between 476 and 491, consul in 485, patricius within 510, and even reaching the influential rank of caput senatus (president of the Senate). His visit to Constantinople
, after which Priscian
dedicated him some poems, was likely on behalf of king Theodoric. However, Symmachus contradicted the Ostrogothic king, who condemned him to death for treason in 526, one year after the execution of Boethius.
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
for the year 485, and for his support of Pope Symmachus
Pope Symmachus
Saint Symmachus was pope from 498 to 514. His tenure was marked by a serious schism over who was legitimately elected pope by the citizens of Rome....
in the schism over his election, Memmius Symmachus was executed with his son-in-law Boethius
Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius
Anicius Manlius Severinus Boëthius, commonly called Boethius was a philosopher of the early 6th century. He was born in Rome to an ancient and important family which included emperors Petronius Maximus and Olybrius and many consuls. His father, Flavius Manlius Boethius, was consul in 487 after...
after being charged with treason.
Biography
He belonged to the SymmachiSymmachi
The Symmachi were an aristocratic family of the late Roman Empire.The family received its first offices at the beginning of the 3rd century, under emperor Septimius Severus, then it increased its prestige, reaching its peaks in the 4th and 5th centuries...
, one of the most rich and influential senatorial families in Rome; his father, Quintus Aurelius Symmachus
Quintus Aurelius Symmachus (consul 446)
Quintus Aurelius Symmachus was a politician and a senator of the Western Roman Empire, belonging to the Symmachi family.- Biography :...
, had been consul in 446. Memmius Symmachus had three daughters (Rusticiana, Galla
Galla of Rome
-Life:Galla was the daughter of Roman patrician Symmachus the Younger, who was appointed consul in 485. Galla was also the sister-in-law of Boethius. Her father, Symmachus the Younger, was condemned to death, unjustly, by Theodoric in 525. Galla was then married but was soon widowed, just over a...
and Proba) and adopted the young Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius when his father died; later Boethius married Rusticiana, and the couple had two sons, Symmachus
Symmachus (consul 522)
Flavius Symmachus was a Roman politician during the Ostrogothic kingdom in Italy.Son of the philosopher Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius and of Rusticiana he was the brother of Boethius, with whom he shared the consulate, chosen by the Ostrogothic court.His father fell into disgrace with the...
and Boethius
Boethius (consul 522)
Flavius Boethius was a Roman politician during the Ostrogothic kingdom in Italy.Son of the philosopher Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius and of Rusticiana he was the brother of Symmachus, with whom he shared the consulate, chosen by the Ostrogothic court.His father fell into disgrace with the...
, both consuls in 522. Memmius Symmachus civil offices included being appointed sole consul for 485, the third known member of his family to hold this office.
Although Symmachus was the head of a family with a long connection with Pagan tradition -- his grandfather 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...
delivered a famous speech urging the return of the Altar of Victory
Altar of Victory
The Altar of Victory was located in the Roman Senate House bearing a gold statue of the goddess Victory. The altar was established by Octavian in 29 BC in honor of the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra at Actium. The statue depicted a winged woman, holding a palm and descending to present a laurel...
to the Roman Senate House
Curia Julia
The Curia Hostilia was one of the original senate houses or 'curia' of the Roman Republic. It is believed to have begun as an Etruscan temple where the warring tribes laid down their arms during the reign of Romulus . During the early kingdom, the temple was for the use of the Senators who acted as...
-- he was an ardent Christian, interested both in theological disputes and, more prosaically, in the struggles for the control of the Pope; during and after the disputed election of Pope Symmachus, he and Anicius Probus Faustus Niger were the only two Senators known to support the pope against his more popular rival, Laurentius
Antipope Laurentius
Laurentius was an antipope of the Roman Catholic Church, from 498 to 506.-Biography:Archpriest of Santa Prassede, Laurentius was elected pope on 22 November 498, in opposition to Symmachus, by a dissenting faction...
.
Symmachus cultivated the ancient Roman culture, writing a Roman history in seven volumes; this work has been lost except for a section quoted by Jordanes
Jordanes
Jordanes, also written Jordanis or Jornandes, was a 6th century Roman bureaucrat, who turned his hand to history later in life....
in his Romana. Symmachus' wealth enabled his patronage
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
: he was involved in publication of the Commentarii in Somnium Scipionis by Macrobius Ambrosius Theodosius, and there is even a copy of the work corrected by his hand.
For the most part, Symmachus maintained good relationships with the new rulers of Italy -- both Odovacer and Theodoric the Great
Theodoric the Great
Theodoric the Great was king of the Ostrogoths , ruler of Italy , regent of the Visigoths , and a viceroy of the Eastern Roman Empire...
-- demonstrated by his appointment as 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...
between 476 and 491, consul in 485, patricius within 510, and even reaching the influential rank of caput senatus (president of the Senate). His visit to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, after which Priscian
Priscian
Priscianus Caesariensis , commonly known as Priscian, was a Latin grammarian. He wrote the Institutiones grammaticae on the subject...
dedicated him some poems, was likely on behalf of king Theodoric. However, Symmachus contradicted the Ostrogothic king, who condemned him to death for treason in 526, one year after the execution of Boethius.
Further reading
- Martindale, John R., and John Morris, "Symmachus (9)", Prosopography of the Later Roman EmpireProsopography of the Later Roman EmpireProsopography of the Later Roman Empire is a set of three volumes collectively describing every person attested or claimed to have lived in the Roman world from AD 260, the date of the beginning of Gallienus' sole rule, to 641, the date of the death of Heraclius, which is commonly held to mark the...
, vol. 2, Cambridge 1980, pp. 1044–1046.