Eutropius was a pagan Roman historian of the later 4th century, writing in Latin, whose brief remarks about himself let us know that he had served under Emperor Julian the Apostate (ruled 361 - 363) and his history covers the reigns of Valentinian and Valens (died 378). Another historian, Georgius Codinus , (De Originibus Constantinopolitanis, ch. 2) notes that Eutropius had been a secretary to Constantine the Great. That is all that is known.
Eutropius published his Epitome of Roman history, in ten books.
One of the features of his histories that readers have interpreted as a sign of a pagan author, is that though he lived through the times of Christian persecutions, he makes no allusion to persecution of Christians whatsoever. Eutropius omits or favorably interprets some of the events that are dishonorable to Rome (Watson 1853, introduction).
Eutropius wrote about the good events in Roman history, such as the achievements of Caesar Augustus and the founding of the empire, in order to "look back on the good times", for Rome was experiencing much turmoil during his lifetime.
External link
- Forum Romanum: Eutropius, Abridgement of Roman History, translated, with notes, by the Rev. John Selby Watson, 1853
