- Decimius Magnus Ausonius (c.310-395 CE) was a Late Roman Politician, Poet and Tutor in Rhetoric from Bordeaux (Burdigala) in Gaul.
- His most famous poem is a description of the river Moselle.
Career
- Ausonius was brought up and educated in Bordeaux and Toulouse.
- He accompanied his uncle when he became a tutor in Constantinople to one of the sons of Constantine I.
- In 334 CE he worked for thirty years at the School of Rhetoric in Bordeaux, first as a Tutor, later progressing to become a Professor.
- In the 360’s Valentinian I invited him to become the Tutor to his son Gratian (375-83 CE). He was made a Quaestor.
- Between 368-9 CE Ausonius accompanied Valentinian I on his campaign in Germania.
- In 375 CE, when Gratian became Emperor, he made Ausonius Prefect of Gaul, during which he conducted a war with the Alemanni.
- In 379 CE Gratian made Ausonius a Consul.
- In 383 CE, Gratian was assassinated by a usurper and Ausonius retired to his estates near Bordeaux, where he continued his writings until he died.
Mosella
- His most famous poem is a description of the river Moselle
Water powered Stone Cutting Mill
- Ausonius makes a brief reference to a Roman technological achievement, a water powered mill that was used to cut marble in the Moselle region.
Chateau Ausone
- The Bordeaux winery claims to be on the former estate of Ausonius and continues a wine-making tradition started 2,000 years ago.
Notable Works
- Epigrammata Ausoni (c. 120 epigrams)
- Ephemeris (a type of diary in poetic form)
- Parentalia (30 poems)
- Epitaphia (26 epitaphs of the Trojan War Heroes)
- Caesares (Discussion of the 12 Caesars by Suetonius)
- Idyllia (20 poems which includes Mosella)
- and many other works.
Chateau Ausone, Bordeaux