Censorius Datianus
Encyclopedia
Censorius Datianus was a politician of the Roman Empire
, very influential under the rule of Emperor Constantius II
(337-361).
and a patricius of the Empire.
He had some properties in Antioch
, where he built public baths, some gardens and some villas. He also exchanged letters with Libanius
, from whom he received, between 355 and 365, 20 letters still conserved.
After serving under Emperor Constantine I
, he became one of the main counsellors of his son Constantius II
. As comes
, in 345 he wrote a letter to bishop Athanasius
inviting him to return to his see in Alexandria
, after being deposed by the Arians. In 351 was a member of the tribunal that put under trial bishop Photinus
at the synod of Sirmium
. In 354 he managed to allow Libanius to return to Antioch. In 358 he held the consul
ate, and he was yet patricius as of 18 September of that same year. After the death of Constantius and the raise to the power of Julian (361-363), he lost influence.
In 363 he was old; he was in Antioch when Julian died. Datianus followed the new Emperor Jovian to Ancyra, where he passed the winter. When Jovian died, in February 364, Datianus wrote from Galatia
to Nicaea, where the imperial court was gathered, to support the election of Valentinian I
. That same month (February 364), the population of Antioch burned his house, and the city council was accused of doing nothing to avoid the fire. The people of Antioch sent Datianus a letter asking for his pardon, through the intercession of Libanius; when Datianus gave his pardon, the people was so happy that Libanius, who brought the news, increased his prestige. The following year he was still alive.
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
, very influential under the rule of Emperor Constantius II
Constantius II
Constantius II , was Roman Emperor from 337 to 361. The second son of Constantine I and Fausta, he ascended to the throne with his brothers Constantine II and Constans upon their father's death....
(337-361).
Biography
Datianus was the son of a servant in the public baths, and he climbed the social ladder up to becoming a senator in ConstantinopleConstantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
and a patricius of the Empire.
He had some properties in Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
, where he built public baths, some gardens and some villas. He also exchanged letters with Libanius
Libanius
Libanius was a Greek-speaking teacher of rhetoric of the Sophist school. During the rise of Christian hegemony in the later Roman Empire, he remained unconverted and regarded himself as a Hellene in religious matters.-Life:...
, from whom he received, between 355 and 365, 20 letters still conserved.
After serving under Emperor Constantine I
Constantine I
Constantine the Great , also known as Constantine I or Saint Constantine, was Roman Emperor from 306 to 337. Well known for being the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, Constantine and co-Emperor Licinius issued the Edict of Milan in 313, which proclaimed religious tolerance of all...
, he became one of the main counsellors of his son Constantius II
Constantius II
Constantius II , was Roman Emperor from 337 to 361. The second son of Constantine I and Fausta, he ascended to the throne with his brothers Constantine II and Constans upon their father's death....
. As comes
Comes
Comes , plural comites , is the Latin word for companion, either individually or as a member of a collective known as comitatus, especially the suite of a magnate, in some cases large and/or formal enough to have a specific name, such as a cohors amicorum. The word comes derives from com- "with" +...
, in 345 he wrote a letter to bishop Athanasius
Athanasius of Alexandria
Athanasius of Alexandria [b. ca. – d. 2 May 373] is also given the titles St. Athanasius the Great, St. Athanasius I of Alexandria, St Athanasius the Confessor and St Athanasius the Apostolic. He was the 20th bishop of Alexandria. His long episcopate lasted 45 years Athanasius of Alexandria [b....
inviting him to return to his see in Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, after being deposed by the Arians. In 351 was a member of the tribunal that put under trial bishop Photinus
Photinus
Photinus was a Christian heresiarch and bishop of Sirmium in Pannonia, best known for denying the incarnation of Christ. His name became synonymous in later literature for someone asserting that Christ was not God.- Life :...
at the synod of Sirmium
Sirmium
Sirmium was a city in ancient Roman Pannonia. Firstly mentioned in the 4th century BC and originally inhabited by the Illyrians and Celts, it was conquered by the Romans in the 1st century BC and subsequently became the capital of the Roman province of Lower Pannonia. In 294 AD, Sirmium was...
. In 354 he managed to allow Libanius to return to Antioch. In 358 he held the consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
ate, and he was yet patricius as of 18 September of that same year. After the death of Constantius and the raise to the power of Julian (361-363), he lost influence.
In 363 he was old; he was in Antioch when Julian died. Datianus followed the new Emperor Jovian to Ancyra, where he passed the winter. When Jovian died, in February 364, Datianus wrote from Galatia
Galatia
Ancient Galatia was an area in the highlands of central Anatolia in modern Turkey. Galatia was named for the immigrant Gauls from Thrace , who settled here and became its ruling caste in the 3rd century BC, following the Gallic invasion of the Balkans in 279 BC. It has been called the "Gallia" of...
to Nicaea, where the imperial court was gathered, to support the election of Valentinian I
Valentinian I
Valentinian I , also known as Valentinian the Great, was Roman emperor from 364 to 375. Upon becoming emperor he made his brother Valens his co-emperor, giving him rule of the eastern provinces while Valentinian retained the west....
. That same month (February 364), the population of Antioch burned his house, and the city council was accused of doing nothing to avoid the fire. The people of Antioch sent Datianus a letter asking for his pardon, through the intercession of Libanius; when Datianus gave his pardon, the people was so happy that Libanius, who brought the news, increased his prestige. The following year he was still alive.