Schools of Gaul in the last century of the Western Empire : $b A study of pagan and Christian education in the last century of the Western empireHaarhoff, T. J. (Theodore Johannes)
History
Schools of Gaul in the last century of the Western Empire : $b A study of pagan and Christian education in the last century of the Western empire
Haarhoff, T. J. (Theodore Johannes)
Education, Ancient -- France; Gaul -- History -- 58 B.C.-511 A.D.
The contention that there were none except teachers of Rhetoric in the
secondary schools of Gaul, seems to rest on better evidence in the case
of Law. In spite of Juvenal’s well-known allusion to Gaul as a school of
forensic eloquence[474] and his contention: ‘Gallia causidicos docuit
facunda Britannos’, and Lucian’s reference[475] to the famous lawyers of
Massilia, Menecrates, Charmolus, and Zenothemis, Ausonius mentions no
professors of law, though there are those among the Bordeaux teachers
whom ‘forum ... fecit nobiles’.[476] The studious Victorius investigates
‘ius pontificum’, the resolutions of the people and the Senate, and the
codes of Draco and Solon, but only as the grammarian would and from the
antiquarian point of view. It is worm-eaten and ancient manuscripts that
he studies rather than more obvious and accessible works.[477]
In the fifth century there are indications of considerable interest. And
this is what we should expect. For the publication of the Theodosian Code
in 438 made the study of law more accessible, and tended to eliminate the
superstitious and the sacramental element in it. So Fauriel says that
jurisprudence attracted more men of distinction then than in previous
centuries.[478] Sidonius mentions particularly the learned Leo of
Narbonne who was more learned in the Twelve Tables than Appius Claudius
himself,[479] and he calls Marcellinus ‘skilled in laws’.[480]
Arles, the seat of the prefect of the Gauls and of the emperor,
naturally became a centre for the study of Roman law. It was there that
Petronius[481] practised his profession.
It appears, however, that while the Gauls were famed for legal knowledge
and ability, Rome was still regarded as the school of jurisprudence.
It is not mere rhetoric when Symmachus calls Rome ‘Latiaris facundiae
domicilium’,[482] and Sidonius ‘Domicilium legum’.[483] Rutilius extols
Rome with unaffected enthusiasm for her law: ‘Thou hast also embraced the
world with thy law-bringing triumphs and makest all to live by a common
bond.’[484]
The belief in Rome’s eternal sway[485] is for him connected chiefly with
her law. ‘Stretch forth thy laws that are destined to live into the Roman
ages, and do thou alone unafraid regard the distaff of the Fates,’[486]
and poetic vision is aided by the lawyer’s foresight.[487] He tells of a
Gaul, Palladius, who went to study law at Rome:
Facundus iuvenis Gallorum nuper ab arvis
missus Romani discere iura fori.[488]
And we are told that St. Germanus who, according to the life claimed
to be by his pupil Constantius, was born at Auxerre towards the end of
the fourth century, had a similar training. To set the crown upon his
literary education in Gaul he went to study law at Rome.[489] Rome, in
fact, maintained her supremacy in this branch longer than in any other,
and her professors attracted students from all parts of the Empire.[490]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account