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Exile Case

Here you will find information about an individual exile case and links which enable you to view exile locations on a map as well as visualise the relationships between people and groups using a network diagram.
Person/Group Dionysius of Milan (PCBE 2, Dionysius 1, 563-4) ( view the social network for this person / group )
Exile Date 355- before 362 (from: --/--/355 to: 4/2/362)
Exile Date Notes He perhaps died in exile.
Sources Faustinus et Marcellinus , libellus precum 23, collectio Avellana 2 (CSEL 35.1:12); Ambrosius, epistula 63, 68-71, 21a and 18 (PL 16:1207-9, 1012-3) = epistula 75a, 18, extra coll. 14 and 68-71 (CSEL 82.3:93-4 and 271-3); Vita Dionysii 76 (AASS Mai. VI:46, BHL 2168); Hilarius of Poitiers, textus narrativus (Liber I ad Constantium), App. 7.1 and 1.3 (CSEL 65:164 and 186-7); Sulpicius Severus, Chronica 2.39 (CSEL 1:92-3); Athanasius, apologia ad Constantium 27 (SC 56:118-9); Athanasius, de fuga 4 (Opitz 2.1:70-71); Athanasius, historia Arianorum 33.6 and 46.3 (Opitz 2.1:201 and 210); Rufinus, historia ecclesiastica 10.21 (GCS 9.2.2:987-8); Socrates, historia ecclesiastica 2.36 (PG 67:300-302); Sozomenus, historia ecclesiastica 4.9.3-4 (GCS 50:148); Theodoret, historia ecclesiastica 2.15.4 (GCS 19:129); Prosper of Aquitaine, epitoma chronicon 1091 (MGH auct. ant. 9, chronica minora 1:455); Liberius, epistula, in Hilarius, Fragmentum historiarum, App. VII.1 (CSEL 65:164-6); Hieronymus, chronica, ann. 355 (GCS 47:239-40); Basilius of Caesarea, epistula 197 (Courtonne); Ennodius, carmina 1.21 (MGH auct. ant. 7:255-6); CIL V 6183a; Acta Sanctorum, Nov. 2.2:271 (BHL 2168 and 2169); Catalogus archiepiscorum Mediolanensium, MGH script. 8:102;

Locations view exile locations

Location of exile's previous office Mediolan(i)um [Milan]
Location exiled from Mediolan(i)um [Milan]
Location exiled to Armenia [Armenia]
Location(s) arrived at Armenia [Armenia]
Date of arrival 355- before 362 (from: --/--/355 to: 4/2/362)
Relationship to location alien place
Type of location region
Reason for leaving n/a
Location(s) exile returned to
Location of office after return
Notes It is not clear where he was exiled to. For example, Markschies in Neuer Pauly says Armenia, probably based on Basil of Caesarea, epistula 197. However, the letter only says that Basil was aware of his burial site, which indicates it was close to Caesarea. In addition, the PCBE article provides a list of literature doubting the authenticity of the letter.

Activities in Exile

Activities Related to Doctrine
Died in exile? yes
Reason for death Unknown, probably died during exile
Writings in Exile no

Legal details

Threat only no
Refuge from judicial proceedings no
Consequence of asylum no
Offenses exiled for/accused of Refusal to condemn Athanasius
Legal type of exile exilium, relegatio
Additional punishments
Intended duration permanent
Actual duration up to seven years
Returned? no
Reason for return
Deposed by synod? yes
Synod deposed by Council of Milan 355 (from: --/--/-- to: --/--/--)
Returned by synod? n/a
Synod returned by

Religious status, office and affiliation

Religious status before exile clerical
Religious status during exile ??
Religious status after return n/a
Clerical or ascetic office before exile bishop
Clerical or ascetic office during exile
Clerical or ascetic office after return n/a
Enforced rank change? n/a
Religious affiliation before exile
Religious affiliation during exile
Religious affiliation after return
Died in exile? yes
Reason for death Unknown, probably died during exile

Cult

Venerated as a saint? Yes
Date probably before 25/05/475 (from: 25/5/475 to: --/--/--)
Notes CIL V 6183a names him a confessor, saying that the corpse of Aurelius was buried in a place dedicated to Dionysius, on the anniversary of his death, probably assumed to be 25 May, today's feast day of Dionysius: Acta Sanctorum, Nov. 2.2:271 (BHL 2168 and 2169). He is mentioned as confessor by Ennodius, carmina 1.21 (MGH auct. ant. 7:255-6) before 521.
Cult site
Sepulchre of Dionysius and Aurelius CIL V 6183a does not give a proper location other than Milan (see 5.6183). The poem seems to have been transcribed from a stone plate by a scholar called Valerius and hence been added to the CIL. Locations: Mediolan(i)um [Milan] Date: 475 (from: --/--/475 to: --/--/--)
Relics
Sepulchre of Aurelius and Dionysius CIL 5.6183=ILCV 1043 records the deposition of Aurelius, bishop of Ridito, next to the relics of Dionysius in 475. There is a debate whether a translation of relics ever took place: T. D. Barnes, ‘Valentinian, Auxentius and Ambrose’, Historia 51 (2002), pp. 227-37 argues it is probable. Locations: Mediolan(i)um [Milan]Mediolan(i)um [Milan] Date: 475 (from: --/--/475 to: --/--/--)

Exile Relationships: Interactions

    Auxentius of Milan

  • Interaction Date 355 (from: --/--/-- to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Alexandria [Alexandria]
    Office presbyter
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile) Arian
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) cleric
    Relationship Quality conflict
    Notes Sulpicius Severus, Chronica 2.39 (CSEL 1:92)
    Successor in post
    Yes

    • Ennodius of Pavia

  • Interaction Date before 521 (from: --/--/-- to: --/7/521)
    Interaction Location Ticinum [Pavia]
    Office Bishop
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) cleric
    Relationship Quality support
    Notes Ennodius, carmina 1.21 (MGH auct. ant. 7:255-6)
    Other Interaction Type
    Yes (author of hymn about Dionysius)

    • Eusebius of Vercelli

  • Interaction Date 355 (from: --/--/355 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Mediolan(i)um [Milan]
    Office Bishop
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) cleric
    Relationship Quality support
    Notes Vita Dionysii 76 (AASS Mai. VI:46, BHL 2168) Hilarius of Poitiers, Text. narrativus (Liber I ad Constantium) 1.3 (CSEL 65:186-7) Sulpicius Severus, Chronica 2.39 (CSEL 1:92) Athanasius, apologia ad Constantium 27 (SC 56:118-9) Athanasius, de fuga 4 (Opitz 2.1:70-71 Athanasius, historia Arianorum 33.6 and 46.3 (Opitz 2.1:201 and 210) Rufinus, historia ecclesiastica 10.21 (GCS 9.2.2:987)
    Other Interaction Type
    Yes (Joint attendant of council)

    • Lucifer of Cagliari

  • Interaction Date 355 (from: --/--/355 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Mediolan(i)um [Milan]
    Office Bishop
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) cleric
    Relationship Quality support
    Notes Vita Dionysii 76 (AASS Mai. VI:46, BHL 2168) Hilarius of Poitiers, Text. narrativus (Liber I ad Constantium) 1.3 (CSEL 65:186-7) Sulpicius Severus, Chronica 2.39 (CSEL 1:92) Athanasius, apologia ad Constantium 27 (SC 56:118-9) Athanasius, de fuga 4 (Opitz 2.1:70-71) Athanasius, historia Arianorum 33.6 and 46.3 (Opitz 2.1:201 and 210) Rufinus, historia ecclesiastica 10.21 (GCS 9.2.2:987) Socrates, historia ecclesiastica 2.36 (PG 67:300-301)
    Other Interaction Type
    Yes (Joint attendant of council)

    • Constantius II

  • Interaction Date 355 (from: --/--/355 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Mediolan(i)um [Milan]
    Office Emperor
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile) Arian
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) lay
    Relationship Quality conflict
    Notes Hilarius of Poitiers, Text. narrativus (Liber I ad Constantium) 1.3 (CSEL 65:186-7) Sulpicius Severus, Chronica 2.39 (CSEL 1:92) Athanasius, apologia ad Constantium 27 (SC 56:118-9) Athanasius, de fuga 4 (Opitz 2.1:70-71) Athanasius, historia Arianorum 33.6 and 46.3 (Opitz 2.1:201 and 210) Rufinus, historia ecclesiastica 10.21 (GCS 9.2.2:987) Socrates, historia ecclesiastica 2.36 (PG 67:300-301)
    Responsible for exile (or exile threat)
    Yes

    • Hilarius

  • Interaction Date 355 (from: --/--/355 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Mediolan(i)um [Milan]
    Office Deacon
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) cleric
    Relationship Quality support
    Notes
    Other Interaction Type
    Yes (Joint attendant of council)

    • Pancratius

  • Interaction Date 355 (from: --/--/355 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Mediolan(i)um [Milan]
    Office presbyter
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) cleric
    Relationship Quality support
    Notes
    Other Interaction Type
    Yes (Joint attendant of council)

    • Valens of Mursa

  • Interaction Date 355 (from: --/--/355 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Mediolan(i)um [Milan]
    Office Bishop
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile) Arian
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) cleric
    Relationship Quality conflict
    Notes
    Other Interaction Type
    Yes (Joint attendant of council)

    • Ursacius of Singidunum

  • Interaction Date 355 (from: --/--/355 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Mediolan(i)um [Milan]
    Office Bishop
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile) Arian
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) cleric
    Relationship Quality conflict
    Notes
    Other Interaction Type
    Yes (Joint attendant of council)

    • Liberius of Rome

  • Interaction Date 355-356 (from: --/--/355 to: --/--/356)
    Interaction Location Roma [Rome]
    Office Bishop of Rome
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) cleric
    Relationship Quality support
    Notes Liberius, epistula in Hilarius, fragm. hist., App. VII.1 (CSEL 65:164-6)
    Correspondent
    Yes

    • Ambrosius of Milan

  • Interaction Date perhaps 396 (from: --/--/362 to: --/--/397)
    Interaction Location Mediolan(i)um [Milan]
    Office Bishop
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) cleric
    Relationship Quality support
    Notes this is very doubtful.This is probably an unhistoric medieval tradition: Catalogus archiepiscorum Mediolanensium, MGH script. 8:102, see PBCE article on Dionysius for literature.
    Responsible Relic
    Yes

    • Basilius of Caesarea

  • Interaction Date before 370 (from: --/--/370 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Caesarea [Kayseri]
    Office Bishop
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) cleric
    Relationship Quality support
    Notes Doubtful, the pertinent second part of the letter may be unauthentic, cf. PBCE article.Basilius of Caeserea, epistula 197 (Courtonne). The authenticity of this letter is doubtful, see PBCE article on literature.
    Responsible Relic
    Yes

    • Aurelius of Riditio

  • Interaction Date 475 (from: --/--/475 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Mediolan(i)um [Milan]
    Office Bishop
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) cleric
    Relationship Quality allegiance
    Notes CIL V 6183a
    Other Interaction Type
    Yes (buried at same place)

    • Eusebia

  • Interaction Date 475 (from: --/--/475 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Mediolan(i)um [Milan]
    Office
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) unknown
    Relationship Quality support
    Notes CIL V 6183a Deposuit corpus tumulo sed laude perennis / Aurelius penetrans regna beata poli / qui mortem vicit meritis mundumque relinquens / immensum Christi possidet imperium / cuius ut agnoscas sanctae praeconia vitae / consortis lector respice facta viri / ambo pari lucis clauserunt tempore metam / membraque Dionisio iunxit amica papae / prompta sacerdotis lacrymas mens i[u]vit orantis / hanc ideo tabulam obtulit Eusebia / Aurelius civitatis Riditionis episcopus / hac(!) die depositus quo etiam pontifex sanctus / confessorque Dionysius post cons<u=O>l(atum) / dom(i)ni n(ostri) divi Leonis iunioris
    Commissioner Inscription
    Yes

Other Relationships: Contacts of an exiled Person/Group's contacts'

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