Alypius (lawyer)

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Alypius was a late Roman 4th century jurist . He came from Thagaste in Little Africa (today's Algeria ).

Alypius is known from letters from the Doctor of the Church, Augustin , who followed his childhood friend, whom he called the "brother of his heart" (frater cordis mei), to Rome in the 370s . Alypius was already studying law there. The old capital set the course for Alypius to pursue a civil service career, which he began as an assessor for various magistrates . He served, for example, the administrator of the imperial financial system (comes sacrarum largitionum ) , who was responsible for the fiscal affairs of Italy as a whole. Alypius quickly made a name for himself as a lawyer, because he was considered brave and incorruptible, so that even the comes hid behind his assistant when a serious attempt at bribery by a senator had to be fended off. The sensational case, however, nearly cost Alypius' career.

From the co-administered state treasury, Alypius invested heavily in equipping libraries. He spared no effort in producing large editions of classic legal literature. The background was certainly that the influential “Symmachuskreis” , to which the law teacher Marinian belonged in Rome , had established a tradition of philologists and editors of high quality and quality and edited accordingly. Alypius took the opportunity to keep circulating uncritical copies of legal works out of his libraries and ultimately to edit for himself.

Around 384, Alypius and Augustin went together to Mediolanum (now Milan ), where both quickly assumed leading positions. Two years later, Alypius was there when Augustine finally converted to Christianity through the words of the Apostle Paul in the garden of the villa in which they both lived. Alypius followed the example of his friend and at Easter 387 both, together with Augustine's son Adeodatus, were baptized by Ambrosius in the Church of Milan. The baptismal font can still be seen under the Milan Cathedral .

When Augustine decided to return to Africa, Alypius finally followed him there too. During these years, Alypius became Augustine's right hand and accompanied him to important councils . In 394 he traveled to Bethlehem to see Hieronymus , whom he probably knew from his time in Rome. On his return trip he became Bishop of Thagaste, and Augustine two years later Bishop of Hippo Regius .

literature

  • Richard Klein : Symmachus. A tragic figure of the outgoing paganism (= impulses of research. Volume 2). Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, Darmstadt 1971 (2nd edition 1986), p. 67 ff.
  • Detlef Liebs : Jurisprudence in late antique Italy (260-640 AD) (= Freiburg legal-historical treatises. New series, volume 8). Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1987, p. 65.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Detlef Liebs : The jurisprudence in late antique Italy (260-640 AD) (= Freiburg legal-historical treatises. New series, volume 8). Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1987, p. 65.
  2. ↑ Augustine, Confessions 9,4,7.
  3. ↑ PLRE I udSt. Alypius 8 aE
  4. ↑ Richard Klein : Symmachus. A tragic figure of outgoing paganism ( Impulse from Research 2), Darmstadt 1971, 2nd edition 1986, p. 67 ff.
  5. ^ Augustine: The Confessions . 8 and 9.
  6. ↑ James O'Donnell: Augustine, a new biography . HarperCollins, New York 2006.
personal data
SURNAME Alypius
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Roman jurist
DATE OF BIRTH 4th century
DATE OF DEATH 4th century