OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# Dictionary of Indian Biography/Muller, Friedrich Max

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​MULLER, FRIEDRICH MAX (1823–1900)
Son of Wilhelm Muller : born Dec. 6, 1823, at Dessau : educated at Leipzig from 1841 : Ph.D., 1843 : translated the Hitopadesa, 1843 : studied under Bopp and Schelling at Berlin, and under Burnouf at Paris : came to England, 1846 : commissioned by the Directors of the E. I. Co. to edit the Sanskrit classic, the Rigveda, with Sayana's commentary : lived at Oxford from 1848 : Deputy, and, in 1854, substantive Taylorian Professor of European Languages : Curator of the Bodleian, 1856 : Fellow of All Souls', 1858 : wrote History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, 1859 : failed to obtain the Sanskrit Professorship at Oxford, 1860 : wrote The Science of Languages and other works on languages : first Professor of Comparative Philology from 1868 : made researches in comparative mythology and the comparative study of religions : wrote on the Science of Religion : his Hibbert lectures on The Origin and Growth of Religion, 1878 : edited, from 1875, the series of "Sacred Books of the East," 51 volumes of translations of Oriental religious works : wrote India, what can it teach us ? 1883 : brought out Sanskrit works and lectures, and helped Sanskrit scholars : literary adviser to Oxford University on Indian subjects, 1877–98 : wrote Chips from a German Workshop and Auld Lang Syne : also on philosophy : Privy Councillor, and received many honours from Governments, Universities; and learned bodies : a leading member in Oriental congresses, and President of the International Congress of Orientalists, 1892 : distinguished also for his great literary and social qualities : his works have been classified under several heads of the languages, and ​sciences, etc., with which he dealt : he died at Oxford, Oct. 28, 1900 : a fund was raised to perpetuate his memory at Oxford by providing for the promotion of Oriental learning and research.
# Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century/Silvanus, bishop of Cirta

Silvanus (4), bp. of Cirta, subdeacon under Paulus, bp. of that see during the persecution under Diocletian, and, as well as he, guilty of "tradition." These facts were elicited at the inquiry under Zenophilus, a.d. 320, at which it was proved, by ample evidence, that Silvanus was guilty of this charge, and also that with others he had appropriated plate and ornaments from the heathen temple of Serapis; and after he became a bishop received as a bribe for ordaining Victor, a fuller, to be a presbyter, money which ought to have been given to the poor. After the inquiry he was banished for refusing to communicate with Ursacius and Zenophilus, at the time of the mission of Macarius, a.d. 348. Aug. Petil. i. 23, iii. 69, 70; de Gest. Emer. 5; c. Cresc. iii. 32, 33, 34, iv. 66; de Unico Bapt. 30. 31; Aug. Ep. 53. 4; Mon. Vet. D. pp. 178, 180, 182, ed. Oberthür; pp. 167–171 ed. Dupin.
[H.W.P.]
# Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century/Severus Sanctus

Severus (12) Sanctus (Endelechius). Perhaps identical with the rhetorician mentioned in the subscription of the Cod. Flor. of Apuleius, as teaching at Rome in 395. He is the author of a Christian idyll, in Asclepiad metre, upon the subject of a great cattle-plague; possibly that mentioned by St. Ambrose (Comm. in Luc. x. 10). This plague occurred c. 376, which fact, together with the date assigned for Endelechius's teaching, and the possibility that he was the correspondent of St. Paulinus of Nola (Ep. xxviii. 6), would fix the date of the poem at the end of the 4th or beginning of the 5th cent. The poem is entitled "de Mortibus Boum," and written with some taste and a good deal of vigour. It represents certain herdsmen—apparently Aquitanians—discussing their fortunes in the general affliction. One of them asserts that his herds have been protected by the sign of the Cross and by his own belief in Christ. The others resolve to adopt a religion which, according to his account, is at once profitable and easy. The poem has been often edited: first by Pithoeus (Paris, 1586). It is in Wernsdorf, Poetae Lat. Min. ii.; Migne, xix. Cave, Hist. Litt. i. 290; Ebert, Gesch. der Chr.-Lat. Lit.; Fabric. Bibl. Graeca, x. 626, 2nd ed.; Teuffel, vol. ii.
[H.A.W.]
# Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century/Sigismundus, St

Sigismundus, St., martyr, 5th king of the Burgundians (516–524), brought up under the influence of Avitus, the orthodox archbp. of Vienne, who succeeded in winning him, with two of his children, from the Arianism of his nation and family (Avitus, Epp. 27, 29, Migne, Patr. Lat. lix. 243, 246; Agobardus, adv. Leg. Gund. xiii. Patr. Lat. civ. 124), and sought to lead his inclinations towards the Roman empire (see Mascou, Annotation ii., where the passages are collected, and Fauriel, Hist. de la Gaule Mérid. ii. 100). He married Ostrogotha, the daughter of Theodoric the Ostrogothic king of Italy (Jornandes in Bouquet, ii. 28). While his father was still living, Sigismund was invested with regal dignity and held his court at Geneva (Avit. Epp. 29, 30; Greg. Tur. Epitom. xxxiv.). In 515 he founded or (Hist. litt. de la France, iii. 89, 91) refounded the monastery of St. Maurice at Agaunum, where tradition placed the martyrdom of the Legio Thebaea (Marius Avent. Chronicon, Patr. Lat. lxxii. 796). In 516 he succeeded his father (Marius, ib.), and in 517 convened a council, under the presidency of Avitus, at Epaunum (supposed to be the present Iene on the Rhone; "Epaon," D. C. A.; Hist. litt. iii. 9). If the extent of his dominion may be inferred from the sees of the bishops present, Burgundy then included, besides the later duchy and county, Dauphiny and Savoy, the city and dominion of Lyons and the Valais, besides a part of the present Switzerland (Mascou, xi. 10, 31). In 523 Clodomir, Clotaire, and Childebert, three of the four sons of Clovis, stirred up by their mother the widowed Clotilda, invaded Burgundy. Sigismund was defeated and fled to St. Maurice, where he was betrayed by his own subjects to Clodomir and carried prisoner in the garb of a monk to Orleans. Shortly afterwards, with his wife and two children, he was murdered at the neighbouring village of Coulmiers, by being cast alive, as was said, into a well (Marius, ib.; Greg. Tur. iii. 6). His brother, Godemar, succeeded him as 6th and last king of the Burgundians.
Sigismund was well-intentioned but weak. He apparently yielded too much to the influence of Roman ideas and habits for the king of a barbarian people, neighboured on one side by the powerful Ostrogothic monarchy and on others by the fiercely aggressive Franks. His partisanship for the orthodox faith, while it harmed him with his subjects, was not thorough-going enough to win the clergy from their leaning towards the Franks (see Fauriel, ii. 100 sqq.).
[S.A.B.]
# Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century/Silvania

Silvania. [SYLVIA.]
# Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century/Silvanus, bishop of Emesa

Silvanus (3), bp. of Emesa. In extreme old age, after 40 years' episcopate, he was thrown to the wild beasts in Diocletian's persecution. Eus. H. E. viii. 13; ix. 6; Theophan. p. 9; Le Quien, Or. Christ. ii. 837.
[E.V.]
# Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century/Silvanus, bishop of Gaza

Silvanus (2), bp. of Gaza, a martyr in the persecution of Maximin, c. 305. He was a presbyter at its outbreak, and from the very beginning he endured many varied sufferings with the greatest fortitude. Not long before his martyrdom, which was one of the last in Palestine, he obtained the episcopate. Eusebius speaks with high admiration of his Christian endurance, saying that he was "reserved to the last to set the seal, as it were, to the conflict in Palestine" (Eus. H. E. viii. 7, 13). He was decapitated, according to the Roman martyrology, on May 4., 308. Theoph. p. 9; Le Quien, Or. Christ. iii. 605.
[E.V.]
# Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century/SiIvanus, bishop of Calahorra

Silvanus (14), first known bp. of Calahorra. We know of him from 2 letters of Ascanius, bp. of Tarragona, and the bishops of his province to pope Hilary, and Hilary's reply dated Dec. 30, 465 (in Migne, Patr. Lat. lviii. 14). The first letter shows that Silvanus had, 7 or 8 years before, consecrated a bishop without any request from the places comprised in his see or the approval of Ascanius. The other bishops of the province were satisfied with admonishing him, and received the new bishop; but the see in question being again vacant Silvanus had lately repeated the act, with the aggravation that the priest consecrated belonged to the diocese of another bishop, and the other bishop at the instance of the bishops of Saragossa having refused to join, Silvanus had performed the consecration alone. In the second letter the bishops express their surprise at the pope's delay in answering. His reply was remarkably favourable, in consequence probably of letters from people of rank and property at Calahorra, Tarazona, and neighbouring towns, which alleged in excuse for Silvanus that his were not the only irregularities, bishops having been consecrated for other cities without the previous approval of the metropolitan. The pope in consideration of the troubled times granted an amnesty for the past, while enjoining strict observance of the canons for the future. As the first letter was written some time before Hilary's reply, Silvanus probably became bp. c. 455. Esp. Sag. xxxiii. 128; Gams, Kirchg. von Sp. ii. (1) 430.
[F.D.]
# Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century/Galla Placidia, daughter of Theodosius I

Galla (5) Placidia, daughter of Theodosius I., by his second wife Galla. When in 410 Rome was captured by Alaric, Placidia was taken prisoner, but was treated with great respect (Olympiod. ap. Phot. Biblioth. lxxx.; Zos. Hist. vi. 12), and in Jan. 414, at Narbona in Gaul, married Ataulphus, who had succeeded his uncle Alaric. After the death of Ataulphus, Placidiareturned to Italy, a.d. 416, and dwelt with her paternal uncle Honorius, at Ravenna. In Jan. 417 she married Constantius. By him she had two children, Valentinian and Honoria (Olympiod. u.s.) Her influence over Constantius was soon shewn in his active persecution of the Pelagians (Prosp. Chron. s.a. 418), when, in Feb. 421, Honorius admitted Constantius to a share of the empire. On Sept. 11, 421, Constantius died. Placidia again took up her abode with Honorius at Ravenna, but their mutual affection being replaced by bitter hate, which occasioned serious disturbances in the city, she and her children were sent to Theodosius II. at Constantinople (Olympiod. u.s.). On the death of Honorius in Aug. 423, Theodosius declared for Valentinian. Valentinian being but a child, the authority of Placidia was now supreme, and among her first acts was the issue of three edicts in rapid succession for the banishment of all "Manicheans, heretics, and schismatics, and every sect opposed to the Catholic faith" (Cod. Theod. XVI. v. 62, July 17; ib. 63, Aug. 4; ib. 64, Aug. 6, 425, all dated from Aquileia), meaning especially the adherents of the antipope Eulalius, who were still numerous in Rome. These edicts were soon followed by another of great severity, directed against apostates (Cod. Theod. XVI. vii. 8, Apr. 7, 426).
In 427 the machinations of Aetius put Placidia in conflict with her tried friend Boniface, count of Africa, who, in despair, appealed for help to the Vandals, and Africa was overrun by their forces. Placidia explained matters to Boniface, and urged him to do his best to repair the injury which the empire had sustained. But it was too late; the Vandals were masters of the country, and Africa was lost (Procop Bell. Vandal. i. 4; Augustine, Ep. 220; Gibbon, c. xxxiii.).
In 449 Placidia was at Rome with Valentinian. The legates of Leo had just returned from the Robber Council of Ephesus. Leo bitterly bewailed the doings of that assembly to Placidia, who immediately wrote to Theodosius and his sister Pulcheria, intreating them to interfere in defence of the faith of their ancestors and to procure the restoration of Flavian, the deposed bp. of Constantinople (Conc. Chalced., pt. i. Ep. 26, 28, 30; Labbe, iv. 53, 55, 58). She died soon afterwards at Rome, and was buried at Ravenna (Idatius, Chr. s.a.; Gibbon, u.s.).
[T.W.N]
# Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century/Fulgentius (4) Ferrandus, disciple and companion of Ruspe

Fulgentius (4) Ferrandus, a disciple and companion of Fulgentius of Ruspe (3); sharing his exile to Sardinia during the persecution by the Arian kings of the Vandals. Ferrandus received the hospitality of St. Saturninus at Cagliari, and on the death of Thrasimund, a.d. 523, returned to Carthage, where he became a deacon. In all probability he was the author of the Vita prefixed to the works of Fulgentius of Ruspe, and dedicated to Felicianus. Hoffmann, Lex. s.n.; Herzog, Encycl. art. by Wagenmann; Petrus Pithaeus, in preface Lectori, prefixed to Breviatio Canonum Ferrandi, Cod. Canonum, p. 303.
Two letters of Ferrandus to Fulgentius are extant (Migne, Patr. lxv. pp. 378-435), with the lengthy and careful replies of the latter. For the former see Fulgentius (3). The second asked concerning:—1. The Separability of the Persons of the Trinity. 2. Whether the Divinity of the Christ suffered on the cross, or the Divine Person suffered only in the flesh. The fifth question concerned the double gift of the cup to the apostles, as mentioned in St. Luke's gospel. Ferrandus was often appealed to for his own theological judgment. His collected writings (Biblioth. Patr. Chiffletius, 1649) preserve one entitled de Duabus in Christo naturis, and an Epistola Anatolio de quaestione an aliquis ex Trinitate passus est. He is also the author of a Breviatio canonum ecclesiasticorum (Codex Canonum, F. Pithaeus, and Miscellanea Ecclesiastica, Petrus Pithaeus, pp. 303 ff.), a collection and digest of 232 canons of the earliest councils, Nicaea, Laodicea, Sardica, Constantinople, Carthage, etc., chiefly appertaining to the election, ordination, and character of bishops, presbyters, and deacons; the feasts of the church; the duties of virgins, catechumens, etc. It is thought to have been compiled during the reign of Anastasius (d. 518). Ferrandus appears to have had his knowledge of the Greek councils through a translation and digest of such canons as had been previously in use in Spain. The mention of later synods and writings has led others to believe that the Breviatio was compiled c. 547. [CANON LAW, D. C. A.] Ferrandus took a not unimportant part in the violent discussions produced by the edict of Justinian I. (the Capatula Tria), which condemned certain passages from Theodoret, Theodore of Mopsuestia, and Ibas of Edessa. Ferrandus was backed by the vehemently orthodox and dyophysite spirit of the N. African church, and in a letter (546) to Anatolius and Pelagius, two deacons of the Roman church, whom Vigilius instructed to communicate with him, declared against the reception of the edict of Justinian. The most complete ed. of his works is by Chiffletius (Dijon, 1649). The two letters to Fulgentius of Ruspe are in Sirmond's and Migne's edd. of Fulgentii Opp.
[H.R.R.]
# Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century/Galenus, physician

Galenus, Claudius, physician, born a.d. 130 at Pergamus, flourished chiefly at Rome under the Antonines, and died in 200 or 201. For a full account see D. of G. and R. Biogr. He belongs to church history only because of a few incidental words referring to Christianity that occur in his voluminous writings. Thus in his de Pulsuum Differentiis (lib. iii. cap. 3, sub. fin. in Opp. t. viii. p. 657, ed. Kühn) he writes: "It is easier to convince the disciples of Moses and Christ than physicians and philosophers who are addicted to particular sects"; and (lib. ii. cap. 4, p. 579) he condemns the method of Archigenes, who requires his dicta to be received absolutely and without demonstration, "as though we were come to the school of Moses and of Christ." In the de Renum Affectuum Dignotione (Kühn, t. xix.) there are other references, but that treatise is spurious. An Arabic writer has preserved a fragment of Galen's lost work, de Republicâ Platonis, which reads: "We know that the people called Christians have founded a religion in parables and miracles. In moral training we see them in nowise inferior to philosophers; they practise celibacy, as do many of their women; in diet they are abstemious, in fastings and prayers assiduous; they injure no one. In the practice of virtue they surpass philosophers; in probity, in continence, in the genuine performance of miracles (verâ miraculorum patratione—does he mean the Scripture miracles, on which their religion was based?) they infinitely excel them" (Casiri, Biblioth. Arabico-Hispana, vol. i. p. 253). For apologetic remarks on Galen's testimony see Lardner's Credibility (Works, vol. vii. p. 300, ed. 1838).
[C.H.]
# Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century/G

* Galenus, physician
* Galerius, emperor
* Galla Placidia, daughter of Theodosius I
* Gallienus P. Licinius, emperor
* Gallus, Caesar
* Gallus (11), abbat and apostle of Switzerland
* Gaudentius, bp. of Brescia
* Gaudentius (7), Donatist bp. of Thamugada
* Gelasius (1) I., bp. of Rome
* Gelasius (13), author from Cyzicus
* Gennadius (10), bp. of Constantinople
* Gennadius (11) Massiliensis, presbyter of Marseilles
* Genovefa, patron saint of Paris and France
* Genseric, king of the Vandals
* Georgius (3), bp. of Laodicea
* Georgius (4), Arian bp. of Alexandria
* Georgius (43), patron saint of England
* Germanus, St., bp. of Auxerre
* Germanus, bp. of Paris
* Gervasius
* Gildas, monk of Bangor
* Glycerius, deacon in Cappadocia
* Glycerius, emperor of the West
* Gnosticism
* Gordianus, father of Pope Gregory the Great
* Gratianus, emperor
* Gregorius Thaumaturgus, bp. of Neocaesarea
* Gregorius, Saint, the Illuminator
* Gregorius, the Cappadocian
* Gregorius Baeticus, St., bp. of Eliberi
* Gregorius I, bp. of Nazianzus
* Gregorius Nazianzenus, bp. of Sasima and Constantinople
* Gregorius Nyssenus, bp. of Nyssa
* Gregorius, bp. of Merida
* Gregorius Theopolitanus, bp. of Antioch
* Gregorius Turonensis, bp. of Tours
* Gregorius I. (The Great), bp. of Rome
* Gundobald, king of the Burgundians
* Guntramnus, king of Burgundy
# Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century/Fundanus (1) Minueius, proconsul of Asia

Fundanus (1) Minucius, proconsul of Asia in the reign of Hadrian. He received the imperial instructions applied for by his predecessor Granianus as to how Christians were to be dealt with (Justin. Mart. Apol. i. § 69; Eus. H. E. iv. 9). [HADRIANUS (1).] This rescript seems to shew that a Christian was not to be tried merely for being a Christian, but only for some definite breach of the law. As this might be due to principles, Christianity would remain still punishable, but only in overt act.
[C.H.]
# Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century/Gallus, Caesar

Gallus (1) Caesar, son of Julius Constantius (youngest brother of Constantine the Great) and his first wife Galla; born A.D. 325 at Massa Veternensis near Siena in Tuscany (Amm. xiv. 11, 27). In the general massacre of the younger branches of the imperial family on the death of Constantine in 337, two young brothers were alone preserved—Gallus who was ill of a sickness which seemed likely to be mortal, and Julian a child of seven.
Both were brought up as Christians, and entered with apparent zeal into the externals of the Christian life. In 350 Gallus received the dignity of Caesar, which the childless Constantius bestowed upon him on succeeding to the sole government of the empire by the death of his brother Constans. In the West Constantius was distracted by the usurpation of Magnentius in Gaul, while in the East the Persians were a perpetual source of alarm. Gallus had to make a solemn oath upon the Gospels not to undertake anything against the rights of his cousin, who similarly pledged himself to Gallus. He received at the same time the strong-minded and unfeminine Constantina as his wife, and Lucilianus, the count of the East, as his general (Zos. 2, 45. Philost. iv. 1 refers to the oath between Constantius and Gallus; cf. Chron. Pasch. p. 540 ; Zonaras, xiii. 8).
The records of his short reign at Antioch come to us chiefly from Ammianus (lib. xiv.). They are almost entirely unfavourable to him. His defence of the frontier against the Persians was indeed successful (Zos. 3, 1; Philost. iii. 28, speaks strongly on this point), but his internal policy was disastrous.
Besides the report of his harsh and open misgovernment, accounts of secret treason meditated by him were conveyed to Constantius. The emperor, with his usual craft, sent an affectionate letter and desired his presence, as he wished to consult him on urgent public business (Amm. xiv. 11, 1). When he arrived at Petovio in Noricum, he was seized by the count Barbatio, deprived of his imperial insignia, and conveyed, with many protestations that his life was safe, to Flanon in Dalmatia, where he was closely guarded. The all-powerful eunuch Eusebius was then sent to interrogate him upon his various crimes. Gallus did not deny them, but blamed his wife. Constantius ordered his execution, which took place towards the close of 354.
His instruction had been Arian under the direction of Constantius, and he seems to have been influenced not a little by the Anomoean Aetius. This notorious man had been sent to him to be put to death as a heretic. Gallus spared him on the intercession of Leontius, bp. of Antioch, and became very friendly with him. According to Philostorgius, he made him his religious instructor, and attempted by his means to recall Julian to the faith, when he heard that he was wavering (Philost. H. E. iii. 27). There is no reason to doubt that the young Caesar was a zealous Christian after a sort, and that he was distressed by his brother's danger of apostasy.
[J.W.]