De principis instructione — Distinctio Prima

De principis instructione — Distinctio Prima

Regarding the lives of the elect, both their commendable actions and their ultimate purpose, we will discuss in detail. For the destruction of tyrants has been a topic worthy of discussion until now. . ,. And so, we will discuss the lives of the chosen and the leaders. We will discuss the lives of noble and generous people, along with their commendable ends, through examples, so that, just as we can learn from those things that should be avoided and condemned, we can also learn from those things that should be imitated, particularly from the Israelites and the leaders of Judah, starting with the foremost of all, namely King David, while also mentioning some of the leaders, especially from the tribes, such as Moses, Joshua, and Samuel. . . . Steveuson, Jerome, Ep. 132. , "against" Pelagius " (Migne, xxii. However, it is from the leaders of the people that we must learn. About the Romans, x • -^ n. In the beginning, there were the origins of the forest. Therefore, Octavian, also known as Caesar, was first called to govern the republic after the death of Julius Caesar. What is it to you? I, Augustus, after Julius Caesar was killed. After him, the second monarch was a gentle and mild prince, and yet none of the Roman leaders was either more fortunate in war or more moderate in peace. After Antonio was defeated, who had been a partner in the empire for twelve years, and with the monarchy now reformed, all the nations, stirred both by fear of such strength and by the favor of his generosity and kindness, willingly transferred their allegiance to him. The Parthians, provoked by the fame of such a renowned name, even though they believed themselves equal to the might of the Komans, willingly returned the Roman standards that they had seized after Crassus was killed. . And after the hostages were given, they earned a firm treaty through faithful supplication to Buscipius, establishing the boundary of their kingdom at the Euphrates River, according to the treaty made by Lucullus and Pompey, the Roman consuls, which they had previously set. Indeed, there is more to note about them. Augustus acted in favor of his own name more than any other commander could have done with the strength of arms. The Scythians, Indians, Garamantes, and Ethiopians also sent ambassadors with gifts to him. Herod, the king of the Jewish people, sailed to him of his own accord after both Antony and Cleopatra had died, and he offered himself to him, laying aside his crown, in a humble manner but with a royal spirit, just as is recorded in the histories of both Egesippus and Josephus. He lived for forty-three years, during which he ruled with great authority over the citizens. He was extremely generous, and among his friends, he was most faithful, having raised them to such high honors that they almost equaled his own status. Surely, he would never have drawn such great power to himself or held onto it for so long, unless he had been abundantly blessed with great natural and industrious gifts. About this, the common saying goes, "If only he had never been born" or "If only he had never died." However, the first of the emperors was called divine in death, just as Christ was called the father of the homeland before. Hit. Sr. It's important to remember that the pursuit of knowledge can sometimes lead us away from what truly matters. In our quest for understanding, we must not lose sight of our spiritual priorities. Ultimately, it's our hearts and intentions that matter most. Flow. , p. He was Augustus. He left behind a most blessed public office to Tiberius, his successor, who had been his stepson, soon to be his son-in-law, and finally his adopted son. Octavian, the first of the Roman leaders, had the world described in a public decree. In those days, during the fortieth and second year of the reign of Octavian Augustus, when all things were held in a deep silence and the peace of the world was so great that it had never been seen before and would never be seen again, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born of the Virgin Mary, who was of the lineage of David, according to the faithful promises. For this reason, peace served in the land. Nafcus is on the eighth day before the Kalends of January, when all the growth of the new year begins to flourish. At his birth, the angels rejoiced and sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will."^✦ However, Horace, Livy, and Hortensius flourished in August. Moreover, Caesar Augustus was rare in his dedication to liberal studies, but he was most constant in maintaining friendships. He was also gentle, gracious, and civil in spirit, and altogether beautiful in body, but his eyes were more so. But although he abstained from food and drink, he still succumbed to lust, leading to a reputation of disgrace. After casting aside his wife Scribonia, he was possessed by love for another woman, Livia, as if her husband had granted him permission to marry her. Livia had two sons from her previous husband, Tiberius and Drusus; Tiberius was the one he left as his successor. But since he was, as has already been said, a slave to lust, he was nonetheless the most severe avenger of that same vice. Finally, he increased and adorned Rome with many buildings, boasting with the saying, "I found a city of brick; I leave it a city of marble." He ruled for many years. And by force. , twelve. When Antonio and the forty-three were present. alone. He died a natural death; he passed away in the year of his age, and his ashes were said to have been placed together with the ashes of his uncle Julius above the column that is called Julia. However, with Tiberius and Gaius Caligula having been removed, as was shown earlier. , p. . In the chapter about Claudio, we say this about Claudio Caesar. Caligula succeeded Claudius, his uncle and the son of Drusus, who also added the British islands of Orkney to the Roman Empire and greatly strengthened the Republic of Rome with arms and courage. Therefore, after Claudius had accomplished many remarkable and tyrannical deeds, he, however, in the end, delirious from the persuasion of his wife, preposterously designated Nero as his successor, after he had ruled for fourteen years. And there were eight months. In the end, you will die naturally. Therefore, after these three—Galba, Otho, and Vespasian—had met their end. Following the custom of tyrants, Vitellius ruled like Vespasian. . He was created emperor of Judea during the time of the Incarnation of our Lord, and he ruled for nine years. And during those days, there were twenty. Two. Here, after many of the Jewish towns were captured and news of Nero's death was heard, the emperor, urged by the soldiers, left his son Titus in charge of the siege of Jerusalem, so that neither the Romans would be lacking nor the Jews, whom his son would represent. Therefore, after Judea was captured in great and difficult battles, the city of Jerusalem was desecrated and the temple was destroyed, as elegantly described by Josephus and Egesippus. Finally, Vespasian and Titus Hug. The emperors entered Rome triumphantly, having achieved a magnificent and memorable victory over the Jews; and they immediately proclaimed peace throughout the entire Roman kingdom, after suppressing all wars and disturbances both at home and abroad. At that time, Achaia, Ebodus, Byzantium, Samus, Thrace, Cilicia, and many other provinces were placed under Roman law. Finally, a colossal statue was erected in Rome by Vespasian, standing nine feet tall. Rome was also restored from the destruction caused by fires, thanks to the abundance of buildings; for it repaired the Capitol, the Temple of Peace, and the monuments of Claudius. Therefore, this Eomana republic, now drained of the blood of tyrants, is like Hug. Flower. Titus. Flower. , p. . Eutropius, VII. . By a certain fate, it has followed that it would completely collapse. The truth of your life is what matters. He perished, delighting in the jokes that he mixed in with them. For when he had risen, weary from the burden of his belly, he said, "It is fitting for the standing emperor to depart from the earth," and thus he died; to him succeeded his son Titus. In the Roman chair, Saint Peter was succeeded by Linus, and Linus was succeeded by Cletus. Titus, the son of Vespasian, succeeded his father in the kingdom in the eighty-first year of the Incarnation, and he ruled for two years and the same number of months. For two years, he ruled over the lands. He is wonderfully adorned with all kinds of virtues and the noble qualities of character, and he would not deny anything to anyone. He also had that famous saying, in which he claimed he had lost the day on which he had given nothing to his soldiers. He was so eloquent that he could argue causes in Latin poetry and compose tragedies in Greek. In the accounts of various historians, many noteworthy things are recorded about him, from which it is written in this way: "There was Titus, a man remarkable in every kind of virtue, so much so that he was called the love and delight of the human race; he was most eloquent, most warlike, and most moderate." He wrote causes in Latin, and composed poems and tragedies in Greek. In the siege of Jerusalem, fighting under the father, there were twelve. The defenders are twelve. " He was pierced by the arrows. Rome was so civil in its rule that it punished no one at all. He released those who were defeated from the spell, and he maintained the same familiarity with them as he had before. His generosity and kindness were such that, when he refused anyone anything and was criticized by his friends, he replied that no one should leave the emperor feeling sad. Furthermore, one day, recalling that he had given nothing to anyone, he said to his friends, 'Today, I've wasted my day.' " Therefore, it is said that Titus excellently stated three things: first, 'I wasted that day on which I gave nothing'; second, 'No one should depart sad from the emperor'; third, 'I have done something in my life that I regret.' " Here Rome built the amphitheater and (luin. . . . . . " For a thousand sacrifices were offered at its dedication." Through this unusual favor, he died from the illness in which his father had been, in the villa two years, eight months, and twenty days after he became emperor, in the forty-second year of his age. Such great sorrow arose at his death that everyone mourned as if they had lost their own. The Senate, upon hearing of his death, burst into the chamber that night and gave him praises and thanks as great as it had never done for anyone while they were alive. Regarding this, it is written metrically: "Titus was shown to the world in the brief span of two years." Finally, Nerva, an old man, succeeded the tyrant Domitian, with Petronius as his supporter and Parthenius as well. . Flower. , About the emperor •, • I. This is a reference to the year of the Incarnation of Christ, the eighty-ninth year, when the Emperor ruled. This is a reference to the year of the Incarnation of Christ, the eighty-ninth year, when the Emperor ruled. Here was a very learned judge of disputes and a frequent one. He also recalled all the exiles by his first decree, whom Domitian had forced to leave; from there, the blessed Apostle John returned from exile. He returned to Ephesus. From John. Nerva, however, greatly advised the state in its time of exile, while he recalled Trajan. He adopted a strong and wise son for himself before he died. Therefore, Trajan, of Hispanic descent, ruled the Koman Empire under Nerva. In the year of the divine Incarnation, under the emperor, it was handed down. , , , Trajan ruled for a number of years. and nine. And with strength. Here in the city of Agrippina, Gallia received the insignia of the empire; soon after, it subdued Germania across the river Eenum and overcame many nations beyond the Danube. He conquered the barbarian nations located across the Euphrates and Tigris rivers and turned them into provinces. Finally, he took control of Seleucia and Babylon, and extended his reach to the borders of India after the great Alexander. He was also generous to his friends, having a military background. Persecution of Christians. Note. Diligence in civil matters, gentleness, and generosity in helping cities are required. And there was holiness in his home, strength in arms, and wisdom everywhere. Finally, when the human condition was brought low and weakened, it was believed to have been given by divine providence as a remedy for evils. During the third year of Trajan's reign, a wave of persecution broke out against Christians. Therefore, Pope Clement of Rome was thrown into the sea, where he miraculously rested in a temple prepared for him by angels. Simon, the son of Cleopas, who was a disciple of Christ, was crucified in Jerusalem for the name of Christ. Ignatius, the Bishop of Antioch, was taken to Komama and, after being handed over to wild beasts, accepted martyrdom. But Alexander, the Roman Pope, was crowned with martyrdom, and many Christians were killed in various provinces. Yet, during a fierce persecution, Pliny the Younger, an orator and historian who presided over other judges, moved by the multitude of those executed, wrote to the emperor, stating that Christians, apart from their confession of Christ and their honorable gatherings, do nothing contrary to Roman laws; and soon, by God's will, Caesar had tempered the edict with lighter rescripts. There was a man of piety and gentleness, who is remembered for a time when, as he was hurrying off to a military campaign, a poor woman approached him and asked him to ensure justice for a piece of property that had been taken from her. As he delayed returning home, she asked him, "What if you don't come back?" But he immediately stood firm and did not want to leave the place until he had satisfied him. Martialis Cocus wrote this, and he is said to have been in service to one whose name is known: "You ought to be praised, since you dared to be good under a harsh ruler and in difficult times." At that time, Trajan was serving under DomiFlor. Flor. Now it is allowed and right; but you are under a harsh ruler. , X • -r» i St. I didn't think there was anything beyond this. Blessed are those who are called. -Archbishop Thomas of Canterbury, noting that he was staying near Pontiniacum. . . . He was known for his cleverness and sharp tongue. When he was tired from studying, he would allow his clerics to take a break in similar places. He was indeed a man of humor and sharp wit. He immediately replied that that book was worthy to be transcribed by him; and if not for any other reason, then for the two verses he was reading at the arrival of the holy man, which seemed to him a kind of prophecy. Because of this, upon hearing these things and immediately taking the book from his hands, he had it transcribed. You will also find these words there: "Give to me, and you, Trajan, deserve it." Mart. "Let them give to me, and you, whatever I desire, if I have deserved it." Among other things, it is also said that Trajan spoke this. For friends give too much, as Eutropius says. He replied that he wanted to be a common and generous emperor, like those he would have chosen for himself in private. After such great glory sought in war and at home, returning from Persia near Seleucia in Isauria, I was overwhelmed. Here. , p. He was buried alone among all in the city; his bones were placed in a golden urn in the forum he built, under a column that has a height of the building. This has been so greatly honored that, even to our time, it is not otherwise acclaimed in the Senate by the leaders than with the words, "More fortunate than Augustus, better than Trajan." Indeed, in this glory, it has obtained such a reputation that it is acknowledged either by those present or by those who are absent. ' Truly, let there be an occasion for the most magnificent example to be praised. Hadrian. Trajauo succeeded Hadrian, his cousin. Fior. He was indeed a good son, born of Hadrian's goodness, and he did not degenerate from that innate quality. He was deeply educated in Greek literature and skilled in rhetoric, but also proficient in various other disciplines, including singing and medicine. He was also a musician, a geometrician, a painter, and a sculptor in wood or marble, witty and sharp enough to provoke and respond to serious matters and jokes alike, for he would often refer to a poem as if it were a song, so that you might say he premeditated everything. He also instructed through Quadratus, a disciple of the Apostles, and Aristides, a wise man from Athens, giving orders through a letter sent to Minutius Fundanus, the proconsul of Asia, that no one should be allowed to condemn a Christian without a valid charge or trial. He also waged war against the Sauromatians and was victorious. Finally, Judas, troubled by the wickedness of his own deeds, devastated his former province of Palestine, and he rebuilt Jerusalem, naming it after himself. Whose works indeed are remarkable. And it was done so that the places, namely those of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection, which were once outside the city, are now surrounded by the northern wall of the same city. Finally, he commanded that no Jew should have permission to enter Jerusalem; only Christians were granted and allowed to enter the city. Furthermore, he lived in a distinct manner. -^Lius Hadrianus Augustus in the year IX. After two years, he succeeded to the throne when he had reigned for twenty years. After Elio Hadrian, Antoninus Pius succeeded to the empire, a good man who was still a very skilled ruler. About Antoninus. 'And he was a kind nature, who ruled for twenty years.' ' And not in the months of three. This was adopted by Hadrian as his son, whose son-in-law he was. To this, Justin the philosopher handed over a book he composed about the Christian religion, and he rendered it kind toward Christians. Moreover, Antony Augustus was so tranquil that he rightly earned the title of Pious. For the foreign nations sent envoys to him, the Indians, the Bactrians, and the Hircanians, having recognized the justice of such a great emperor; for he was devoid of the desire for glory and ostentation. He passed away in the thirty-third year of his reign, and in honor of him, temples, priests, and many other honors were decreed by the senators. Therefore, Constantius Augustus acted more gently and with greater kindness. He had a deep reverence and honor for the followers of Christ. The flower of virtue is a precious thing. The wise person is caught up in the idols of false wealth. You will be judged according to your majesty. From this, the grace of God followed the foretold maturity of the destruction of tyrants, and the kingdom of Constantine, his son, expanded successfully all the way to the ocean. Finally, Constantius, the most vigorous emperor, in the fifteenth year of his reign. In Eboracum, Licinius was appointed as Caesar of the Spaniards, and his son Constantine was made Caesar of the Gauls. Therefore, Constantine the Great, appointed by God's will as emperor in Britain, ruled for thirty-two years, as a most moderate and distinguished prince. In the eastern regions, Maximianus Galerius was ruling; meanwhile, in Eomae, Maxentius, the son of Maximianus Herculeus, was appointed emperor by the Praetorian soldiers. But Constantine the Great, as soon as he received the height of the kingdom from his father's inheritance, was accepted by the army through God's remarkable grace and was to be imitated by brave men, while he was indeed terrible to the wicked and the cowardly. Maxentius, on the other hand, was caught up in such a mire of crimes and wickedness, and in such a quagmire of impurity, that nothing of the most heinous deeds was absent from his life or actions. Not full, Hug. Blossom. Flourish. About the sign of the Cross that appears. Alien. So now, in the seventh year of his reign, Hu? :. He flourished. While he was preparing for war against Maxentius, as we mentioned, Constantine, who was not yet baptized and was endowed with noble character, was conspiring with his colleague Licinius. And as he was advancing and discussing many things with himself about the necessity of the impending war, he saw in a dream a sign in heaven, the holy Cross shining with a fiery brightness, and angels standing by him and saying, "Constantine, in this you will conquer"; and immediately, waking up, he had the sign he had seen painted on his standards, and thus equipped and armed with great hope of victory, he hastened to engage in battle against Maxentius. But, with Maxentius divinely defeated and drowned in the river, as he fell into the trap he had set, through the power of the saving sign, Constantine triumphantly entered the city of Rome. And immediately, as the images were raised by the Senate in honor of that triumph, they had the sign of the Holy Cross depicted in the right hand of them and inscribed below that it was the invincible sign of God Yivi. After Maximino, the tyrant of the East, was afflicted by a severe illness, he first sought healing privately and later turned to worldly matters. Exempt from the valid leprosy of squalor, Constantine is established in Rome. But after rejecting the advice of the senators, who were advising him, he acted. . V popcSyi- bameum ei m sanp-ume mnocentium parari suaserant, vester. What good is it to you to be wise in your own eyes, if you are not humble before God? Fior, having been warned by Pope Silvester, made his way to Mount Soracte, where he was summoned and earned the right to be baptized by him, and immediately he was healed from his illness. He immediately came out of the baptismal font, anointed with holy chrism and marked with the seal of the holy cross. After he saw himself completely healed, he commanded by public decree that throughout the entire Roman Empire, temples should be closed and the church? They will be lacking. He also built a church to God and Saint John the Baptist within the Lateran Palace, which he wanted to be the head and summit of all churches; in it, he consecrated a baptistery made of porphyry stone, adorning it inside with the purest silver, and placed a column in its center. Flower. Maximiano, Hug. Flower. As he poured the chalice, he spoke and said, 'This is the most excellent test.' He built a magnificent basilica in the city of Cadca, dedicated to the holy apostles Peter and Paul, where he laid to rest the bodies of the same apostles. It is truly incredible how much the holy Church has grown throughout the world and how much care has been taken regarding the funding for building churches. For when the church was to be built by public decree throughout his entire realm, he himself provided funds from the royal treasury so that the people could serve the bishops from the royal revenue, whence the holy [church]? The church will be perfected; this is for the praise of God. Constantine, who was known for his kindness and generosity, was also recognized for his remarkable ability to do good works. Finally, Licinius, whom he had made a partner in the empire and to whom he had given his sister Constantia in marriage, was provoked to discord through envy; after being defeated in battle near Bithynia and beheaded at Thessalonica, Constantine obtained the stability of the Roman Empire, surely aided by divine grace. Then, recognizing the city of Sylvester, I will offer to God His gift of brotherhood on that day. He reflects on Rome with its palace, which is called Lateran, and he contemplates the Apostles Peter and Paul and the holy Pope Sylvester, along with the cities and camps throughout Italy, transferred from the imperial seat of Byzantium with nearly all the Roman nobility, a city that he adorned with distinguished churches and palaces, also beautifying it in his own name. Thus, the Church is first adorned with the generous gifts of rulers. It began to be enriched, gaining more from worldly pursuits and subjection than from the spiritual beatitude or the tranquility of devotion; indeed, it gained more in outward appearance through this pomp than in inner fulfillment, as is believed. Therefore, the ancient enemy has made a mark. In the public assembly, it is read that he declared, "Today the Church has been poisoned." I poured out. Therefore, Jerome in the Lives of the Fathers states, "The Church, from which it grew in possessions, has decreed virtues, concerning vices indeed and riches, simultaneously increasing with its faults." Finally, Constantine Augustus, in all things. When tyranny was removed, the Church of Christ was magnificently exalted and expanded throughout the world, and he passed away, exempt from human affairs, with a happy end. Persecutions have been endured by the Church, but we have taken care to explain why this is so. So far, the persecutions that ecclesiastical men have endured are noteworthy. However, we will now discuss those that are far more serious, which have been inflicted by Christians, but are perpetrated by heretics. Yet, we must first mention this small point: that heretics and their leaders, prompted by the wicked enemy of humankind, have used this art to deceive and corrupt. In particular, they would corrupt the very leaders and their secretaries, who were more closely associated with them, making it easier to sway others either by the examples of their superiors or through tyrannical oppression and violence. Now, however, we will reveal those things that are far more serious, which are propagated by heretics rather than Christians, setting aside this small point that heretics and their leaders, prompted by the evil enemy of the human race, have always used this art to deceive and corrupt, by infecting the foremost leaders and corrupting them along with their secretaries and those who are more closely associated with them, so that, having been enticed, they might more easily be led astray either by the examples of their elders (since it is said, "as the king, so the people") or by tyrannical oppressions and violence. Indeed, during the days of Constantinius, the son of Constantine the Great, and his relative Julian the Apostate, heresies like Arianism began to spread. They began to spread, especially the Arian heresy, which was infecting many people by establishing a majority and a minority through its poisonous teachings. But let us now turn to both of those we discussed in their place, leaving aside those destined for destruction, and consider the union of Jovian and Valentinian, which is indeed a happier one. Jovian, however, after the death of Julian, having secured the stability of the Roman Empire, ruled for eight months; he was a strong man and noble, and at that time was a Millenarian, during which Julian proposed to his soldiers a law that they either sacrifice or yield to military service. He who prefers to lose his belt rather than obey the commands of the most wicked earthly ruler. This is Jovian. The flower fades, but the word of our God endures forever.^✦ . About Jovian. "The Life of Malchus," § (Migne, xxiii. exact. So throughout. Julian was being violently dragged to power by soldiers after his death, saying that he would not command pagan men, since he was a Christian himself; and when the voice of all proclaimed together that he was indeed a Christian, he accepted the authority. When he was violently dragged to power by the soldiers after Julian's death, he said that he would not rule over pagan men while he himself was a Christian; and when the voice of all proclaimed to him that he was a Christian, he accepted the authority. Therefore, Emperor Jovian was thinking about the common good and how he could lead his army safely out of the midst of the enemy; but when he found himself trapped by the treachery of the terrain and surrounded by foes, he saw no way to escape. He struck a treaty with Sapores, the king of the Persians, and surrendered the city of Nisibis along with part of Upper Mesopotamia to him. Then the king of the Persians made a market for the sale of goods in the desert. And so Jovian led the Roman army out from the midst of the enemies. However, when he was returning to Illyricum through Galatia, he took refuge in a certain new room, where he was weighed down and suffocated by the heat of the plums and the stench of the walls of the nearby place, and finally, on the eighth day, an untimely death seized him with such joyful beginnings. Finally, Yalentinianus the Great, who himself, as we previously mentioned in the preceding chapter, stood for the Catholic faith. Fior. , he had been a private soldier under the impious Julian, after Jovian had died in the city of Nicaea, having obtained command with the consent of the Roman soldiers in the three hundredth year of the divine Incarnation, and he ruled for eleven years. He stood out not only for his strength, but also for his wisdom, self-control, justice, and physical stature. Thus, he is said to have been both royal and urban, while the army was tempting him to give another companion, "Yestrum," he said, "Soldiers, it was for me to take on the rule of the empire; but this, once I accepted, is now mine and not yours to think about common matters." And soon he took his brother Yalentem into the partnership of the kingdom, and he indeed retained the western regions for himself, but he granted his brother the eastern parts to govern. However, this Yalens, his wife, is Arriana Hug. However, this is the way. About the voice that was sent from heaven to Ambrose. He had been led to speak and was ensnared, when he was a Catholic. Meanwhile, as Valentinian was descending to Italy, Auxentius, the bishop and supporter of the Arian doctrine, who had held the see of Milan for a long time, was now very late in passing away. Then the emperor called the bishops and ordered the suffragans to choose for themselves a bishop according to God. While the bishops were discussing with the clergy, the citizens, as was customary, were creating a disturbance, some asking for one person to be appointed and others for another. When St. Ambrose was present, Ambrose. When a conflict arose between the Catholics and the Arians, Ambrose, still a catechumen, came to them as a consul to restrain them, and while he was addressing the people according to the law and public discipline, suddenly the voice of a child cried out, "Ambrose, Bishop!" At the sound of that voice, the whole crowd turned their faces and shouted, "Ambrose, Bishop!" However, Valentinian Augustus, happily ruling the empire in the eleventh year of his reign, and in the fifty-fourth year of his life, finally died at the town of Brigetio. In private life, soldiers from Italy took up the son of Valentinian, while his brother Gratian was still alive, along with Valens, their uncle. So, Gratian, the son of Valentinian, became emperor after the death of the tyrant Valens, as we mentioned above. . . He was a Catholic, modest, and well-educated man, also quite restrained in his eating and drinking, and victorious over lust. However, this man, a strong and well-known figure, made Theodosius his chosen companion in the empire. Theodosius, soon after he became emperor, freed Thrace from all the noise of war by subduing the barbarian nations in the East; and Gratian defeated the Huns and Goths in great battles and entered the city of Constantinople as a victor, and he also overcame the king of the Goths, Athalaric. Fior. , when he established a firm alliance with himself. In Italy, however, Probus is mentioned. . Gratian. The flower of virtue is the fruit of a good heart. . Theodosius. ^ Atlialaricum Athauricum, Hug. Flower. Correctly. He was appointed under the rule of Valoutinian, overseeing public affairs. Again, under the tyranny in Britain, Maximus seized power; he was indeed a vigorous man and worthy of command, unless he had conspired against the republic. Therefore, Maximus came from Britain into Gaul, where he was suddenly ambushed by Gratian's legions, who were offended by the actions of the Emperor. He began to attack them. Maximus was leading his army against Andagratum, a cunning and treacherous man, who unexpectedly ambushed Gratian as he was approaching his wife, catching him off guard. Gratianus died in the fifteenth year of his reign, but his life was cut short in the twenty-fourth year. At that time, Gratian, the brother of Valontinianus, fled in terror to the lUyricum, saying that this evil was deserved by his mother because she was an Arrian. Hearing this, Theodosius the emperor did not hesitate. Gratian rose up in vengeance against the entire East with the strength of his forces. But after the first was killed, he easily triumphed over the strongest of the tyrants, Maximus, near Apuleia, and later over the equally wicked tyrants, Eugenio and Arbogaste, with divine protection and the power of the saving sign, defeating and eliminating them. After Gratian, who had reigned for fifteen years, died, he ruled successfully for six years. Because of these and other notable victories of his, he is often compared to Theodotius. A certain poet, inspired by divine grace, wrote these lines in praise of him among other verses: "O beloved of God, the heavens sing for you." , iii. It's said that his parents, warned in a dream, gave him this name, which can be understood in Latin as "given to God." However, I didn't think it necessary to mention here the two notable things that the history recounts about this prince. About the slaughter of five thousand from the Andagratum Andragatliium, Hug. Flower. Correctly. In Thessalonica, a gathering was called by the emperor for the games, which led to the execution of some military personnel shortly before; for this reason, Ambrose excommunicated the emperor and barred him from entering the church until he had sincerely repented and made satisfaction. Where are you and among whom? Ambrose, compelled by the law, established a sentence to be given through a certain admonition. It's a day of judgment! Let the judgment be delayed, so that anger and wrath may be calmed, and the time for true repentance may be awaited. Once, a certain philosopher, having been reproached, patiently obeyed; who, when he saw that he could easily be stirred to anger by the prods of irritation, advised that whenever he began to get angry, he should... [text missing]. And three. If you were to recall Greek letters, it would be so that this fleeting and momentary stirring of the spirit might be briefly transferred elsewhere and not languish. It's important to keep reviewing what you've learned. This is a reminder of the importance of correction after one has strayed. It emphasizes the need for humility in accepting guidance. Ultimately, it calls for a sincere commitment to personal growth. The same bishop Ambrose removed the emperor from the presbytery, where after the offering was made, as Theodosius had been accustomed to stand in Constantinople, forbidden from the presbytery. -w • -i xAmbroseto remoto. It was taken up, and here it must be understood, how much it costs to be gentle with this emperor and among men, and how much devotion is required. In this example, consider how much humility the emperor has shown and how much devotion is displayed among people. For he himself, accepting this correction with a patient spirit, replied, saying, "I did not remain in prison out of boldness, but I recognized that this custom exists in the city of Constantinople." But I give thanks for such a remedy. Therefore, both the presbyter and the emperor shone with such virtue; indeed, correction from a man of virtue is beneficial. The wife of Theodosius, named Placilla, was not pleasing. She was endowed with such virtue and charity that her praises and deeds were incomparably abundant. , p. . The empress is here. I am a servant. To visit the homes of the poor and the hospices of the churches, to restore the needy, to break bread for them with your own hands, and to serve them drinks from the cups, is not only necessary. It has been customary to do so. O happy union, where kindness and humility, along with various admirable virtues, are seen together! Finally, the most faithful Emperor Constantine, who was the first to spread the Christian faith and its principles throughout the world, did so with great piety. He adorned the empire, but forbade the sacrifice to demons, yet Hur. He flourished. He destroyed their temples, but he commanded that the inaccessible remain; whose paternal footprints they followed. Julian, however, succeeding him, renewed impiety and rekindled the flame of ancient wickedness. Jovian, having taken power after the death of Juhano, once again prohibited the sacrifices to idols. Finally, he granted to all the nations of the Roman Empire the freedom to practice their religions as they wished, only opposing those who did not accept the Arian doctrines. So, up until the time of the great Theodosius, the fire was lit at the altars of idols, and offerings and sacrifices were made; but public festivals were celebrated in the streets, and the orgies of Dionysus and Bacchus were held, along with sacred rites. Ravenous dogs, tearing apart and raging. They were indeed driven by all the wickedness that the ancient error and their own fury instigated. But Theodosius, the Catholic emperor, ordered that all these things be completely uprooted and destroyed, seized, and condemned. During those days, Jerome, a presbyter of the Roman Church and a magnificent interpreter of divine matters, flourished, and how great he was in three languages—Latin, Greek, and Hebrew—how learned he was, and how useful he was as an instrument of Christ, is well known. During those days, Didymus of Alexandria also flourished. . , • T. Alexandria. The eyes can be blind, but the mind is not; for if it had learned the first elements of knowledge, it would see rare things with its own light. He is blessed. He prayed without ceasing, not for the sight of the fleshly eyes, but for the vision of the mind, as it is written in the Gospel, "What is impossible for men is possible for God." He leads to the flower. And to the flower. End. Maximus drains Iroops. Flower. , p. . Britain was invaded by Theodosius. He would perceive the warning, which he has attained. For this reason, note well that such great grace and knowledge of divine and human matters later came to him, so that he could perfectly enjoy the knowledge of the seven arts, which are called liberal, and he could merit to become a magnificent teacher in the Church. Around the same time, and shortly before, the tyrant Maximus, whom we mentioned earlier, had invaded the British island with armed youth and military forces, crossing into Gaul, having plundered it, which had been destroyed in war by Theodosius Augustus along with his junior, Valentinian. From there, the neighboring nations, namely the Scots and the Picts, invaded the island, which was left defenseless, and they miserably oppressed the Britons for many years as they grew stronger. Moreover, Theodosius Augustus, a man beloved by God, finally? Having incurred sickness, he passed away from this life in the natural way at Mediolanum, in the sixteenth year of his reign, praised for his life, but truly for his own. In the sixtieth year. This Theodosius, born of the father Honorius and descended from the prince Trajan, following his goodness with great deeds, was neither lacking in moral qualities nor degenerating in physical appearance; he was a man of noble spirit and so common among friends that he thought he differed from them only in outward appearance. Moreover, a generous spirit is required in all people, but it should be balanced with restraint; one should love simple minds, admire the learned, give generously with a noble heart, and be quick to anger over unworthy matters, but also quick to be calmed. He also shunned the marriages of his cousins, as if they were his sisters. This body has indeed been transferred to Constantinople and honorably buried. Since there has been mention here of the Picts and Scots, we need to explain who these peoples are, from which regions they came, and for what reasons they were brought to Britain, as we have gathered from various histories. We did not think this matter was necessary. The Picts, whom Virgil also calls Agathyrsi, lived around the marshy regions from which the Picts and Scots came to Britain, and that's why they are called so. They have claimed to have had a history. In discussing this passage, Servius comments on Virgil, saying, "The Picts are Agathyrsi," and we call them Picts because they are said to be "stigmatized," which means they are branded, due to an abundance of phlegm. These are the people who are called Goths. Since, indeed, when bodies are covered with frequent marks of wounds, they appear as if painted, the Picts are also called those who are covered with such scars. When Maximus, that tyrant from Britain, was sent to the Picts to establish France, with the strength of men and arms, to occupy the empire, Gratian and Valentinian, brothers and partners in the empire, sent this strong and vigorous Gothic people, either as conquered or subject, from the borders of the Scythians into the northern parts of Britain to attack the Britons and tyrannize them with the youth of the whole kingdom, which he had taken away and would not return, thus they sent them across by ship. They, indeed, were strong because of the innate warlike nature of the Goths, and also because they found the island empty of men and resources, as we said, and they did not intend to return to their own lands, having taken possession of the provinces and parts of the same region, which they had seized from the pirates. In the course of time, since they had taken wives from neighboring Hibernia, which was close by, they had come to possess them from the Britons. They could not draw the Irish people, who are also called Scots, into their fellowship; and they occupied a part of the maritime land and their own homelands, where the narrow sea, which is called Galweidia, was closer, to settle down. Where they are also united and later cry out, the Agathyrsi. , iv. . Is there anything like this for the Britons, as Bede mentions? i. yf' ^^^^ efFecti. Regarding this, the historian Gildas speaks about the downfall of the Britons, saying: "From that time, Britain, stripped of all armed soldiers and strong youth of the kingdom, was left desolate, never to return again, completely ignorant of the ways of war, fiercely attacked by two nations at first, the Picts from the north and the Scots from the south, began to be oppressed and trampled upon." TheRoraan Iterumque post pauca vexatis ad gemitum Britonum legions leave - • •! What good is it to you if you gain the whole world but lose your soul? The legion was built up repeatedly, with walls and valleys constructed from sea to sea and towers erected, although in vain, and arms were prepared for the protection of the Britons. Gildas adds: "They emerge in a rush, returning to their own, as if from the depths of a sun-heated cave, greatly differing in habit and culture, yet united in the same eagerness to shed blood, more like wild beasts than human beings, with hair on their faces rather than clothing on their bodies." " covering. ? . They knew that the return of the legions and their denial of the usual confidence would first devastate the extreme part of the land up to the wall, and later they would break through the wall itself and the towers, laying waste to those borders completely and with fire. From the Britons, Gildas laments the weakness of his people. In the same book, he mentions in a letter to Rome the assistance of Gildas. The words transmitted from them are: "The Barbarians drive us to the sea, and the sea also drives us to the Barbarians." "From here we are slaughtered, and from there we are submerged." And not long after, it is said of them that the Britons are neither strong in battle nor faithful in peace. Therefore, because of these things, Gildas. Serious infestations and hostile attacks suddenly broke in. At that time, they were also dealing with the Romans. The Saxons couldn't defend themselves against the soldiers because of the mercenaries in their ranks. They sent fires and messengers from Germania with ominous signs of destruction for their people, and they did so in a very unfortunate manner. Advocates. The Saxons, coming as if to fight for the Britons, are actually going to attack them, disregarding both the Sacraments and their faith, and even with the enemies they should be fighting against, they immediately join forces. ,,,. ,. enemies. The nations, through a long process of time, have taken over the entire realm of Britain by enormous and unheard-of betrayals, as well as through great and serious conflicts, after expelling its citizens. Moreover, after so many victories, the strength of the Picts has vanished. Occupied, as we said about the Picts, by the Saxons and bound by a peace treaty with the Picts, the Scots, who had joined the Picts and had been summoned by them to settle the land, seeing the Picts, although fewer now because of their kinship with the Irish, were nonetheless far superior in arms and courage, turned to their usual and seemingly innate betrayals, by which they excel others. They turned back. They gathered together, as if for a feast, all the leaders of the Picts, having been seized by both food and drink, marked by drunkenness. Perhaps due to excessive indulgence in food and drink, as well as the shameful opportunity noted, the extraction of nails was carried out. Those who held the boards in the hollow of the benches where they sat were caught in a marvelous trap, so that they could barely lift themselves up, and they were generally overwhelmed, having fallen from all sides, both suddenly and unexpectedly. They did not fear anything from their allies and confederates or from their own benefit, nor from the companions of war, but they were struck down immediately. Thus, concerning the two peoples, as quoted by Higden in his book. A more warlike and stronger people has completely vanished; however, another has remained, in every way inferior, as if in a time of such great betrayal they had gained the whole land from sea to sea, which they called Scotland, and they have held it until today. The Britons took their name from a leader named Brutus, while the Scots, according to some, got their name from a Hebrew leader, or from the river Iberus in Spain, from which they originated. They are called Gaideli from their leader of that name, just as the people called Scots are named after the wife of that Gaidel, who is called Scotia. Some, however, claim that the Vandals, from whom they trace their original lineage, are the source of both their origin and the name Gaidelos. Is Tiberius the fiftieth emperor of the Romans? I don't know what you're talking about. This man was a Catholic and a devout person; from him, many churches were restored in the city of Constantinople. He also entered the land of the Persians and conquered them with great power; then, as he was leaving, he brought back such a massive burden with many elephants that it seemed to satisfy human desire. At that time, although he was indeed Catholic, the Arian heresy had infected many provinces and occupied regions, and shortly after the death of Constantine, it was present near the royal city. l)! . In the time of Orthodox Emperor Constantine, his son Justinian took on the governance of the empire by hereditary right. From A. Id. . Therefore, under the good Prince Constantine, the matter is settled. . The crowd of tyrants, acting in a tyrannical manner or as if they were dispossessed, or cruelly extinguished, up to Nicephorus and Michael, of whom one was shamefully killed, the other indeed ignominiously laid to rest and made a monk, transferred from the Western Franks and Rome under the old empire, to tK? We will turn to the strength of their devotion and style, and we will begin with Charles, son of Pepin, who was instituted by the authority of the Roman pontiff Zacharias from the Prefect of the Palace, King of the Franks. Distinct. Therefore, let us approach the matters of the kingdom of Charles, King of the Franks, who was first made Advocate of the Romans, then Patrician, and finally Emperor and Augustus, to promote the strong deeds that must be brought forth regarding the situation of Gaul, its origins, and the progress of the kings, who were first called Sicambri, then Franks, following the traces of Alcuin, the teacher of Charles, explicitly: "The land of the Gauls lies to the east, bordered by its own confines and Italy, with the mountain ranges it has; to the south, there is the strait of the Mediterranean, the province flowing past Narbonne; further to the west, the Spanish lands and the ocean, which is called the Gallic Sea or the British Sea." From there, it stretches northward all the way to the banks of the Rhine, which flows down from the Alps, dividing Gaul from the Germans. Thus, it is said that Gaul is surrounded by these borders, as Alcuin's description clearly states. The great emperor Charles, when he saw the end of his life approaching, entrusted the imperial crown to his son Louis, whom he had long ago appointed king of Aquitaine; however, he made Bernard, the son of Pepin his son, king of Italy. He passed away in the year 1171 of his reign. However, it is of its own nature. , and of the Incarnation of Christ, 313. , in the indiction. Three. , V. the first of February. He was buried in the church of the Holy Mother of God Mary in Aachen; a gilded arch was built over his tomb with an image and the following inscription: "Under this burial place lies the body of Charles the Great and Orthodox Emperor, who nobly expanded the kingdom of the Franks for forty-six years." He passed away happily. He passed away in the year of the Lord's Incarnation, etc., as mentioned above. At the same time, Saint Giles the Confessor flourished. Giles. He was a prominent figure, a Greek by nationality, who came to Gaul by the will of God. I weep. In the province where the week is named, he led a hermitic life for three years. So also Hug. Bloom. ; properly "seven. ," as in Egiuhard. Blossom. G is about the principles of instruction, Paul. It became clear that Paul, a member of his own people, was Lombard. He is a historian of the Lombards, a writer who came from the monastery of Monte Cassino to Gaul, drawn by the love of the most excellent prince Charles. He set out for Rome in a certain manner, and he was from Charles's entourage. He was accompanied by others. Rome. In the last instance, because of Pope Leo, who was deeply affected by many injuries, he came to Rome, with his eyes opened and his tongue cut off, to seek justice and to establish his seat there, and because he was greatly troubled, he spent the entire winter there to reform the state of the Church, where he finally received the name of Emperor and Augustus, just as he had before the death of His Holiness. He established his own, and how Catholic, his testimony, and he set up his treasures and riches through the churches of his kingdom and empire, as well as monasteries and hospices, and also the diverse distribution of alms. What about the distribution? And also the signs, how many and how great, so manifest and admirable, preceded and announced the death of such a great prince; whoever wishes to know more fully should refer to the writings of Alcuin. Now, concerning Louis, the son of King Charles, about... ... -. So, since we have previously chosen a few things, we will speak more fully. Lodowicus Pius, son of the great emperor Karolus, held the Roman Empire after his father's death in the year of the divine Incarnation 1313. He ruled for about twenty-seven years. This was a man of the most gentle nature, who, while arranging public matters according to the gentleness of his own character, faced many adversities, being cruelly attacked both by his peers and by the nobility; yet he was a fervent executor of the Lord's teachings and a most vigorous promoter of the holy law. The bishops and the most distinguished men gathered together to compose and establish a canonical book. So be it. He is self-controlled. Finally, at that time, they began to be laid down by bishops and clergy, adorned with jeweled belts, and with golden girdles, and exquisitely decorated, and other similar things. Flower. ; ciltris, or Vieuna reacls " culturis " (Lambep. What do you seek, O Hug? The flower of distinction is important. What good is it to you to have all these things? It is necessary to address the matters at hand. We must consider the essential chapters of our discussions. He also had a son named Ludovicus. This is the account of Charles, son of Louis, and his wife Judith, who was the second. He was the king of the Franks. Moreover, Lotliair... ^ Cluest, Kuif; Lotharius, the first emperor, while he was in Italy, was established as the most benign ruler over Italy, and he came to Rome. On the feast of Saint Pascha, in the church of Saint Peter the Apostle, Pope Paschal received the crown in the name of Augustus. Eugenius succeeded Pope Paschal, to whom Hilduinus, the abbot of Saint Denis and of Saint Medard, sent a request asking him to transmit the bones of the venerable martyr Sebastian; which he obtained, and they were honorably placed next to Saint Tiburtius. As was fitting, Medard placed the body in Suesonica, and at the same time, the most holy bodies of the martyrs Hippolytus and Tyburtius were brought from IIipi to Rome and laid in the church of Saint Denis, in the area of Galliani. Not far from the city of Paris, they are buried. During the time of Gundulph, Bishop of Meaux, and Brother Drogo, who was the brother of Emperor Louis, About Louis, his son Lothair was taken. He succeeded him. In the Roman chair, Eugenio succeeded Pope Valens, and under the authority of Valentinian and Gregory IV, Lotharius, with their approval, took his father Lodowic into his care and ordered that it be kept at the monastery of Saint Medard in Laon. Judith's wife was also exiled, and Karolus, whom Lodowicus had taken from her, was entrusted to the castle of Prignae. Not long after, the princes of France freed Emperor Louis from captivity and reconciled him with his son Lothair. After this, the most merciful emperor divided his realm among his four sons: he gave Italy to Loimpcrio, the land of Lodowic to GermaLodowici, Saxony to Lodowic, and Aquitaine to Pippin. Indeed, Charles delegated France and Burgundy. But Lotharius did not accept this division of the empire calmly; instead, he sought to keep the entire empire for himself. Flower. * Valentiniamis Valentiuus, Hug. Flower. , more correctly. He attempted to submit; because the father realized it, he immediately seized the opportunity to confront death again. But in that very journey, what adversities will you face? d! . He closed the last day of his life in good health. His body was brought by Bishop Drogone of Metis and buried in the church of Saint Arnulf the Confessor. He died in the sixty-fourth year of his life. After the death of this man, three of his sons gathered at Fontanidum. They did so for the sake of the kingdom of Aquitaine, which their brother had ruled, and now Pippin was already dead. . In that war, the French, Italians, Aquitanians, Saxons, and Alemanni all fought against each other with mutual destruction. . . From the clouds, however, Charles won the victory. In Eomana Gregory. The chair of Gregory, remembered as Pope, succeeded Sergius and Nicholas. Praise be to Sergio Leo the Fourth, to Leo Benedict, and to Benedict NichoTheodulph. Theodulph of Orléans, abbot of Fleury and bishop of Orléans, flourished during these times. He was exiled to the city of Angers after being found guilty of many crimes before Emperor Louis. While he was being held in custody, it happened that on Palm Sunday the most pious emperor came there, and as the procession passed by the house where Theodulphus the bishop was being kept, he sang those beautiful verses that are still sung throughout Gaul in the same solemnity, from the window. This is the beginning: "Glory, praise, and honor be to you, King Christ the Redeemer, in this hymn." Glory, praise, and honor be to you, King Christ the Redeemer. The emperor, softened, soon commanded that he be released from his chains and granted him grace once more; but, as he returned to his own, he is said to be extinguished by poison. To whom succeeded in Joppa, the venerable Bishop Jonah, who against Claudius, the bishop of Taurian, a heresiarch, published a book on the Adorable Sign of the Lord, stating that it should not be adored unless it is presented before our faces, whether in the waters by which we are reborn, or in Christ, to whom we are conformed, or in the sacrifice by which we are sanctified, nothing is accomplished without the rite. The aforementioned Bishop Jonas responded quite clearly in his little book. There also flourished a certain Rabanus, who was known for his work. He composed a book on the Praise of the Cross, adorned with various decorations in meter. Moreover, four sons succeeded Lodovico as emperor; of these, Lotharius, after his father's death, did not last many days. D. SyS. He became a monk, abandoning the dignity of his imperial rule, which he had inherited from his father Lodovico. Indeed, Pius, who is also called Calvins, alone held dominion over France, Burgundy, and Britain; nor long after did he attain the height of the Roman Empire. But as it is said about the Franks, the last kingdom also obtained both rule and empire, transferred to the Bavarians with imperial authority.