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Ambrose of Milan: Political Letters and Speeches (Translated Texts for Historians, 43)
The episcopate of Ambrose of Milan (374-97) is pivotal to understanding the developing relationship between the Christian Church and the Roman Empire in late antiquity. As bishop of Milan, Ambrose came into frequent contact with the highest levels of the imperial administration, including the
emperors Gratian, Valentinian II, and Theodosius I themselves. He also exerted a degree of leadership in doctrinal matters over the bishops of northern Italy and adjacent regions. Any consideration of Ambrose's career must begin with his own writings. This volume presents some of his most important
the tenth book of his collection of letters; the letters that are preserved outside his published collection (Epistulae extra collectionem); and his funeral speeches for Valentinian II and Theodosius I. They document not only his influence over the bishops of neighbouring cities, but also his
celebrated conflicts with the imperial court over the altar of Victory at Rome, the imperial siege of churches in Milan
emperors Gratian, Valentinian II, and Theodosius I themselves. He also exerted a degree of leadership in doctrinal matters over the bishops of northern Italy and adjacent regions. Any consideration of Ambrose's career must begin with his own writings. This volume presents some of his most important
the tenth book of his collection of letters; the letters that are preserved outside his published collection (Epistulae extra collectionem); and his funeral speeches for Valentinian II and Theodosius I. They document not only his influence over the bishops of neighbouring cities, but also his
celebrated conflicts with the imperial court over the altar of Victory at Rome, the imperial siege of churches in Milan
432 pages, Hardcover
First published December 15, 2005
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June 1, 2026
St Ambrose had one of the most astonishing elevations to the episcopate. There was a riot in a Milan Church as Arians and Nicenes shouted at each other, trying to insist that the next bishop should be from their communities. Ambrose turned up as the unbaptized local government leader and appealed for both sides to be calm. Both sides were so impressed by him that they suddenly agreed to make him the next bishop. Thus, Ambrose went from baptism to bishop in a matter of days.
He brought into the Church a classical education and training in rhetoric, which we can see in the letters in this collection. While his initial theological education was rudimentary, his intelligence and grasp of issues was profound. He was instrumental in the conversion of St Augustine and, as the letters in this collection show, he had an extraordinary influence on the emperors. Either by force of character in his letters, or by confronting the emperors directly in Church, he changed several significant political decisions.
Although Ambrose’s faith was absolutely solidly Nicene, his Christian sensibilities did not always align with where modern thinkers might be. Letter 74 narrates the extraordinary situation of a Christian mob who burned down a synagogue in Syrian Callinicum. The emperor rightly blames them, and then asks hte local bishop to recompense and rebuild the destroyed synagogue. While Ambrose is comfortable with the idea of blaming the arsonists, he is not at all happy with the idea that a Christian bishop should be giving money to build a synagogue, despite the fact that he agrees the Christian mob should not have burned it down in the first place. Thus Ambrose prevails upon the emperor to cancel his instruction that the bishop should pay compensation.
A particularly interesting exchange in the letters concerned the Altar of Victory (letter 73). It was located in the Senate and had been used for swearing oaths. There was also a pagan custom of burning incense on it as senators entered the Senate. When it was removed, Symmachus petitioned the emperor for its return, asking why Christian wishes to remove it should override his own wish to use it for his pagan cult. Ambrose’s reply is interesting. He is adamantly opposed to the return of the altar, but it is not because he wants to eradicate pagan altars. He makes the point that Symmachus can go to other pagan temples which still exist. The core reason for his opposition to the altar is that it compromises Christian senators who are forced to be involved in pagan worship by virtue of the fact that they cannot avoid the pagan rituals if the altar is in the senate.
As part of the exchange, Ambrose sometimes makes some funny asides. He noticed, for example, that the Vestal Virgins are struggling to recruit. They only need 7 girls, and the girls only have to promise to stay until the age of 40. Yet that once honoured prospect is no longer attractive to pagan families. Whereas Christian convents were bursting at the seems. Ambrose’s own sister was a nun.
Textually this is a very readable set of translations, and the supporting notes are excellent. They provide a detailed context for each letter, fully explaining the historical issues in the background and even attempting reconstructions of events where the sources are contradictory. The book also provides a glossary and bibliographies. These tools make it an ideal resource for academic students or for casual readers who just want to know more about Ambrose and the political events that he became embroiled within.
He brought into the Church a classical education and training in rhetoric, which we can see in the letters in this collection. While his initial theological education was rudimentary, his intelligence and grasp of issues was profound. He was instrumental in the conversion of St Augustine and, as the letters in this collection show, he had an extraordinary influence on the emperors. Either by force of character in his letters, or by confronting the emperors directly in Church, he changed several significant political decisions.
Although Ambrose’s faith was absolutely solidly Nicene, his Christian sensibilities did not always align with where modern thinkers might be. Letter 74 narrates the extraordinary situation of a Christian mob who burned down a synagogue in Syrian Callinicum. The emperor rightly blames them, and then asks hte local bishop to recompense and rebuild the destroyed synagogue. While Ambrose is comfortable with the idea of blaming the arsonists, he is not at all happy with the idea that a Christian bishop should be giving money to build a synagogue, despite the fact that he agrees the Christian mob should not have burned it down in the first place. Thus Ambrose prevails upon the emperor to cancel his instruction that the bishop should pay compensation.
A particularly interesting exchange in the letters concerned the Altar of Victory (letter 73). It was located in the Senate and had been used for swearing oaths. There was also a pagan custom of burning incense on it as senators entered the Senate. When it was removed, Symmachus petitioned the emperor for its return, asking why Christian wishes to remove it should override his own wish to use it for his pagan cult. Ambrose’s reply is interesting. He is adamantly opposed to the return of the altar, but it is not because he wants to eradicate pagan altars. He makes the point that Symmachus can go to other pagan temples which still exist. The core reason for his opposition to the altar is that it compromises Christian senators who are forced to be involved in pagan worship by virtue of the fact that they cannot avoid the pagan rituals if the altar is in the senate.
As part of the exchange, Ambrose sometimes makes some funny asides. He noticed, for example, that the Vestal Virgins are struggling to recruit. They only need 7 girls, and the girls only have to promise to stay until the age of 40. Yet that once honoured prospect is no longer attractive to pagan families. Whereas Christian convents were bursting at the seems. Ambrose’s own sister was a nun.
Textually this is a very readable set of translations, and the supporting notes are excellent. They provide a detailed context for each letter, fully explaining the historical issues in the background and even attempting reconstructions of events where the sources are contradictory. The book also provides a glossary and bibliographies. These tools make it an ideal resource for academic students or for casual readers who just want to know more about Ambrose and the political events that he became embroiled within.
March 14, 2023
epistula extra collectionem 14
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews