The Mosella of Ausonius

Decimius Magnus Ausonius (c. 310–c. 395) was a Roman poet and educator from Burdigala, Aquitaine, now modern-day Bordeaux, France. He played a significant role as a tutor to the future Emperor Gratian, who later appointed him as consul.

Ausonius was the son of Julius Ausonius, a physician of Greek descent, and Aemilia Aeonia of Gallo-Roman lineage. Raised by his aunt and grandmother, both named Aemilia, Ausonius received a rigorous education in Bordeaux and Toulouse, where his maternal uncle, Aemilius Magnus Arborius, was a professor. While excelling in grammar and rhetoric, he faced challenges in mastering Greek. In 328, he returned to Bordeaux to complete his education under the guidance of the rhetorician Minervius Alcimus.

After his early education, Ausonius initially pursued a career as an advocate but later shifted his focus to teaching. In 334, he became a grammaticus (instructor) at a school of rhetoric in Bordeaux and subsequently a rhetor or professor. His teaching garnered a considerable number of pupils, including the renowned poet Paulinus, who later became a Christian bishop.

In 368, Emperor Valentinian I summoned Ausonius to educate his son, Gratian. Ausonius accompanied them during the German campaigns of 368–9, which earned him the rank of quaestor from Emperor Valentinian. During this time, he established influential connections, notably with Quintus Aurelius Symmachus.

Gratian’s respect for his tutor led to Ausonius and his family receiving high civil honours. In 375, Ausonius was appointed Praetorian Prefect of Gaul, and in 376, his son Hesperius became proconsul of Africa. In 379, Ausonius reached the height of his career when he was granted the consulate.

In 383, following the assassination of Gratian by Magnus Maximus, Ausonius retired to his estates near Burdigala. There, he spent the remainder of his life composing poetry and corresponding with influential contemporaries.

It appears that he converted to Christianity late in life. Ausonius died around 395, leaving a legacy as a poet and educator. His works provide valuable insights into various aspects of Roman life and culture, including early evidence of large-scale viticulture and references to the technology of water-mills.

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