Page 176 - Envoys and Political Communication in the Late Antique West 411 - 533

Envoys and Political Communication,411–533

Pope Symmachus in the Laurentian schism in Rome during the early
500s, as were his patron Faustus Niger and Bishop Laurence of Milan.
Ennodius wrote a refutation of criticisms of Symmachus and, together
with his bishop, Laurence, he visited Ravenna in late 503 to advance
Symmachus’ cause; Ennodius provided significantamounts of money for
Laurence to disburse there on Symmachus’ behalf. 145 Internal evidence
indicates that Ennodius’ Vita Epiphani was written during this period,
c. 502–4. 146
Ennodius’ later career, not strictly relevent to assessment of the Vita,
none the less indicates his high status and shows continuities with Epipha-
nius’ own life. Perhaps in late 506, Ennodius was senton a journey to
the Cottian Alps, apparently by his bishop. 147 He enjoyed close contact
not only with Faustus Niger but also with other senior palatine officials
in Ravenna, from whom he received assistance for clients and valuable
information on the itinerary of the royal court and the best means to
approach the king to pursue suits. 148 During 507, Ennodius made an
extended stay in Ravenna for purposes which are obscure; while there,
in April 507, he delivered a panegyric before Theoderic in Ravenna, on
behalf of the church of Milan. 149 Notsurprisingly, Ennodius was well
tutored in the political views of Theoderic’s court. Ennodius’ Bishop
Laurence was also in Ravenna later the same year, and Ennodius con-
templated a further trip there early the next year, to present a case before
the king. 150 In 511, he was chosen as envoy to representhis province, Lig-
uria, on a mission to Theoderic – it was in this capacity that Epiphanius
had twice travelled to Ravenna – but ill health made Ennodius disin-
clined to undertake the journey, and he hoped, from information passed
on by contacts in Ravenna, that Theoderic would soon be travelling to
the province of Liguria and so make the trip unnecessary. 151 Throughout

145 Ennodius, Opera, 77, 139, 283, 300 (Ennodius sponsored Laurence’s expenses on Symmachus’
behalf), 362 = Epp. iii, 10; iv, 11; vi, 16, 33; vii, 29.Inlate 508, Ennodius was still seeking
reimbursementfrom Symmachus. Fragmentum Laurentianum (Duchesne, Liber pont.), 52, accuses
Symmachus of bribing Theoderic’s court.
146
Date of Vita Epiphani: Vogel, Introduction to Ennodius, Opera, xviii–xix; Sundwall, Adhandlun-
gen, 21, 74.
147
Ennodius, opus 245 = Carm. i, 1, line 6: Iussus in excursum Gallica lustra sequi; line 16: edocuit
vates fervidus imperio. Hartel, Index nominum et rerum to Ennodius, Opera, 620; Sundwall,
Abhandlungen, 39; Barnish, ‘Ennodius’ Lives of Epiphanius and Antony’, 18.
148
PCBE ii, ‘Magnus Felix Ennodius’, 623–5.
149
Ennodius, Panegyricus Theoderico regi dictus, ed. Vogel, MGH AA 7, 203–14; ed. Hartel, CSEL 6.
On behalf of church of Milan: Pan., 77. Date and place: Sundwall, Abhandlungen, 42–4. Suggested
political and ecclesiastic contexts for the Panegyric are reviewed by Cesa, Introduction to Vita del
Epifanio, 20–1 n. 33.
150
Ennodius, opus 294 = Ep. vi, 27; Sundwall, Abhandlungen, 47.
151
Ennodius, opus 433 = Ep. ix, 11.6: legati provincialis nomen;cf. opera, 435, 437 = Ep. ix, 13, 14.
Barnish, ‘Ennodius’ Lives of Epiphanius and Antony’, 18.
150