Ammianus Marcellinus
Ammianus Marcellinus was an ancient Roman historian, born around 330 A.D. in Antioch, who emerged from a noble background. He initially served in the Roman army during the reign of Emperor Constantius II, where he participated in military campaigns in Gaul and against the Persians, eventually becoming an officer in the Praetorian Guard. Later in life, Marcellinus settled in Rome and devoted himself to documenting the history of the Roman Empire through his major work, *Res Gestae*. This extensive history originally comprised at least thirty-one books, though only eighteen have survived. His writings span from 353 A.D. to 378 A.D. and are renowned for their clarity, conciseness, and impartiality. Ammianus provided detailed accounts of military events, social history, and the cultural diversity of the empire, while also offering biographical insights into various emperors. Notably, despite his pagan beliefs, he addressed early Christianity in a respectful manner, contributing valuable references to its development within the Roman context. Marcellinus is recognized as one of the greatest historians of Rome, with his works continuing to serve as important historical sources today.
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Ammianus Marcellinus
- Born: c. 330
- Birthplace: Antioch, Italy
- Died: c. 391
- Place of death: Ancient Rome
Biography
Ammianus Marcellinus, an ancient Roman historian, was born around 330 A.D. in Antioch, Italy. Marcellinus was born into a noble family. At an early age, he enlisted in the Roman army.
During the reign of Emperor Constantius II, Marcellinus served under Ursicinus, the governor of Nisibis in Mesopotamia. Marcellinus became an officer in the Praetorian Guard and fought battles in Gaul as well as several campaigns against the Persians.
During his later years, Marcellinus settled in Rome, where he dedicated the remainder of his life to writing the history of the Roman Empire. Marcellinus’s work, Res Gestae, was written in Latin and contained at least thirty-one books. However, only eighteen of these books survived to modern times.
Marcellinus’s historical writings cover the period of 353 A.D. to 378 A.D. These writings were known for their clear, concise, and impartial account of Roman history. They proved to be a valuable historical reference as they contained detailed information on military events, social history, descriptions of different cultures, and biographical information on many emperors of the time. Although Marcellinus was a pagan, he was able to write about Christianity without prejudice. Numerous volumes of Res Gestae provided historical references to the development of early Christianity in the Roman Empire.
References in his works led scholars to believe that Ammianus Marcellinus lived until approximately 391 A.D. He was considered one of the greatest Roman historians.