Ambrose and the Senatorial Aristocracy

Quintus Aurelius Symmachus  340-402                  Virius Nichomachus Flavianus
    proconsul Africa 373                                                 Vettius Agorius Praetextatus
    praefectus urbi  384-5                                               Macrobius
    consul      391                                                              Servius    /  Historia Augusta

334                    Aurelius Ambrosius born while father was Praetorian Prefect of Gaul
365                    A. as advocatus for the Praet. Praef.
370                    A. appointed consularis of Liguria-Aemilia, residence in Milan
355 - 10/374     Auxentius, Arian bp. of Milan; election of Ambrose
8/9/378              Battle of Adrianople
378                    Gratian requests books de Fide
1/19/379           Theodosius nominated Aug. by Gratian
382                  - disestablishment of paganism by Gratian;
                        - first petition of Senate to Gratian, refuses audience to Symmachus
383                   Augustine in Rome
384 summer     second petition of Senate on Altar of Victory to Valentinian II (13 yrs. old)
      autumn       Augustine nominated by Symmachus as professor of rhetoric in Milan
385                   Jerome leaves Rome for the east
7/386                conversion of St. Augustine & his withdrawal to Cassiciacum
4/24/387           baptism of Augustine (388 returns to Africa)
12/388              affair concerning synagogue destruction at Callinicum
389                   third petition of Senate on Altar of Victory
4/390                massacre of hippodrome crowd at Thessalonica
10-12/390         penance of Theodosius before Ambrose in Milan
391                    destruction of Serapeum in Alexandria;
                          Augustine forcibly ordained
8/392                Valentinian II killed,
                          Eugenius proclaimed emperor by Arbogast the Frank
393                    Eugenius and Arbogast invade Italy
9/6/394              battle of the Frigidus River, defeat of Eugenius by Theodosius
1/17/395            death of Theodosius
395/6                Augustine elected bp. of Hippo Regius
4/4/397             death of Ambrose
397                   Augustine's Confessions
402                   Prudentius's Contra Symmachum

Study Questions:
The Dossier on the Altar of Victory

 Valentinian II
 

Ambrose, letter 17:

Does Ambrose's 1st letter seem like a carefully reasoned reply?
How does he deal with the issue of Valentinian's youth?
Does he threaten him?
How does he deal with the toleration granted by Valentinian's father, Valentinian I?

Symmachus, relatio 3:
Why does Symmachus think the current political/military situation merits keeping the Altar?
Why is the Altar good for the Senate (& consequently good for the emperor)?
How would you describe the heart of his argument? (3.8-10)
How do various religious rites and practices fit into his outlook?
In what way does he rely upon the argument from Rome's history?
Is he advocating that Valentinian renounce Christianity?

Ambrose, letter 18:
How does Ambrose reply to Symmachus's historical arguments?
According to Ambrose, how did Rome achieve so many  military victories?
Does he have much sympathy for pagan rites lacking state support?
What use does he make of martyrs and consecrated virgins in his argument?
How does he reply to Symmachus's "many paths" argument?  Compare with Acts 17:22-31

Which one seems more persuasive to you?
What would you have done if you were Valentinian II?