Editing Ambrosius Aurelianus (section)

==According to Gildas==
Ambrosius Aurelianus is one of the few people whom [[Gildas]] identifies by name in his sermon ''[[De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae]]'', and the only one named from the 5th century.<ref name="Fletcher_15">{{cite book |last= Fletcher|first= Richard|title= Who's Who in Roman Britain and Anglo-Saxon England|pages=15–16|year= 1989|publisher= Shepheard-Walwyn| isbn = 0-85683-089-5 }}</ref> ''De Excidio'' is considered the oldest extant British document about the so-called Arthurian period of [[Sub-Roman Britain]].<ref name="Reno">Reno (1996), p. 263–282</ref> Following the destructive assault of the Saxons, the survivors gather together under the leadership of Ambrosius, who is described as:

{{Blockquote|a gentleman who, perhaps alone of the Romans, had survived the shock of this notable storm. Certainly his parents, who had worn the purple, were slain in it. His descendants in our day have become greatly inferior to their grandfather's [''avita''] excellence. Under him our people regained their strength, and challenged the victors to battle. The Lord assented, and the battle went their way.<ref name="Korrel">Korrel (1984), pp. 5–30</ref>}}

Ambrosius was possibly of high birth and very likely a Christian: Gildas says that he won his battles "with God's help".<ref name="Fletcher_15" /> Ambrosius's parents were slain by the Saxons and he was among the few survivors of their initial invasion.<ref name="Korrel"/>

According to Gildas, Ambrosius organised the survivors into an armed force and achieved the first military victory over the Saxon invaders. However, this victory was not decisive: "Sometimes the Saxons and sometimes the citizens [meaning the Romano-British inhabitants] were victorious." Due to Gildas's description of him, Ambrosius is one of the figures called the [[Last of the Romans]].<ref name="Venning">Venning (2013), Ambrosius Aurelianus, unnumbered pages</ref>

===Scholarship questions===
Two points in Gildas's description have attracted much scholarly commentary. The first is what Gildas meant by saying Ambrosius' family "had worn the purple". [[Roman emperor]]s and male [[patrician (Ancient Rome)|Patricians]] wore clothes with a purple band to denote their class so the reference to purple may be to an aristocratic heritage. [[Tribune#Tribune of the soldiers|Roman military tribunes]] (''tribuni militum''), senior officers in Roman legions, wore a similar purple band so the reference may be to a family background of military leadership. The tradition was old, as the [[toga]]s and [[pallium (Roman cloak)|pallia]] of already ancient senators and tribunes were trimmed with the purple band. In the church, "the purple" is a euphemism for blood and therefore "wearing the purple" may be a reference to martyrdom<ref name="Gidlow_80">{{cite book|last= Gidlow|first= Christopher|title= The Reign of Arthur: From History to Legend|pages= [https://archive.org/details/reignofarthurfro0000gidl/page/80 80]|year= 2004|publisher= Sutton Publishing|isbn= 0-7509-3418-2|url= https://archive.org/details/reignofarthurfro0000gidl/page/80}}</ref><ref name="Craughwell">Craughwell (2008), pp. 106–112</ref> or a bishop's robe. In addition, in the later [[Roman Empire]] both [[Roman consul]]s and governors of consular rank also wore clothes with a purple fringe. The ''[[Notitia Dignitatum]]'', a Roman catalogue of official posts, lists four or five provincial governors in [[Roman Britain]] and two of them were of consular rank. One was the governor of [[Maxima Caesariensis]] and the other that of [[Valentia (Roman Britain)|Valentia]]. The parent who wore the purple may well have been one of these governors, whose names were not recorded.<ref name="Ashley">Ashley (2005), ''De Excidio'', unnumbered pages</ref>

It has been suggested by historian [[Alex Woolf]] that Ambrosius may have been related to the 5th-century Romano-British usurpers [[Marcus (usurper)|Marcus]] or [[Gratian (usurper)|Gratian]] – Woolf expresses a preference based on nomenclature for Marcus.<ref name="Woolf_354">{{cite encyclopedia |last=Woolf |first=Alex |editor1-last=Goetz |editor1-first=Hans-Werner|editor2-last=Jarnut |editor2-first=Jorg |editor3-last=Pohl |editor3-first=Walter |encyclopedia=Regna and Gentes: The relationship between Late Antique and Early Medieval Peoples and Kingdoms in the Transformation of the Roman World |title=The Britons: from Romans to Barbarians |year=2003 |publisher=BRILL |series=The Transformation of the Roman World |volume=13 |isbn=9004125248 |pages=345–80}}</ref> Frank D. Reno, an Arthurian scholar, has instead argued that the name "Aurelianus" indicates the descent of Ambrosius from the [[Illyrians|Illyrian]] [[List of Roman emperors|Roman emperor]] [[Aurelian]] (reigned 270–275).<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Historic King Arthur: Authenticating the Celtic Hero of Post-Roman Britain|last=Reno|first=Frank D.|publisher=McFarland|year=2007|isbn=9780786430253|pages=263}}</ref> Aurelian's military campaigns included the conquest of the [[Gallic Empire]]. N. J. Higham suggests that Ambrosius may have been distantly related to imperial families of the late [[Roman Empire]], such as the [[Theodosian dynasty]]. Branches of this particular dynasty were known to be active in western Roman provinces like [[Hispania]].<ref name="Higham">Higham (1994), p. 35–66</ref>

[[Mike Ashley (writer)|Mike Ashley]] instead focuses on the name "Ambrosius" and its possible connection to [[Ambrose|Saint Ambrosius]], a fourth-century [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milan|Bishop of Milan]], who also served as consular governor in areas of [[Roman Italy]]. The father of the Bishop is sometimes claimed to be a fourth century [[Praetorian prefecture of Gaul|Praetorian prefect of Gaul]] named Aurelius Ambrosius, whose areas included Britain, though some modern scholars doubt that Saint Ambrosius was related to this man (instead identifying his father with an official named Uranius mentioned in an extract from the [[Theodosian Code]]).<ref>Barnes, T. D., "The Election of Ambrose of Milan", in: Johan Leemans (ed), ''Episcopal Elections in Late Antiquity'', de Gruyter, 2011, pp 39–60.</ref><ref>Mazzarino, S. "Il padre di Ambrogio", ''Helikon'' 13–14, 1973–1974, 111–117.</ref><ref>Mazzarino, S., "Storia sociale del vescovo Ambrogio", ''Problemi e ricerche di storia antica'' 4, Rome 1989, 79–81.</ref> Ashley suggests that Ambrosius Aurelianus was related to the two Aurelii Ambrosii.<ref name="Ashley"/> Tim Venning points out that the name "Aurelianus" could be the result of a [[Adoption in ancient Rome|Roman adoption]]. When a boy was adopted into a new [[gens]] (clan), he received the family names of his new family but was often additionally called by a [[cognomen]] indicating his descent from his original family. The additional cognomen often had the form "-anus". When [[Augustus|Gaius Octavius]] from gens [[Octavia (gens)|Octavia]] was adopted by his uncle [[Gaius Julius Caesar]], he was often distinguished from his adoptive father by the addition "Octavianus".<ref name="Venning"/> In this case, Ambrosius may have been a member of gens [[Aurelia (gens)|Aurelia]] who was adopted by another gens/family.<ref name="Venning"/>

The second question is the meaning of the word ''avita'': Gildas could have meant "ancestors", or intended it to mean more specifically "grandfather" – thus indicating Ambrosius lived about a generation before the [[Battle of Badon]]. Lack of information prevents sure answers to these questions.

===Gildas's motives===
N. J. Higham, author of a book on Gildas and the literary tropes that he used, has suggested that Gildas may have had considerable motive for drawing attention to Ambrosius. He was not attempting to write a historical biography of the man, according to Higham, but setting him as an example to his contemporaries. It was essential to the philosophy of Gildas that Briton leaders who achieved victory over the [[barbarian]]s were only able to do so because of divine aid. And only those who had superior Christian virtues were deserving of this aid.<ref name="Higham"/> Ambrosius Aurelianus was apparently known for at least one such victory over the barbarians. To fit him into his worldview, Gildas was almost required to feature the former warrior as a man of exceptional virtues and obedience to God. He was made to fit Gildas's version of a model leader.<ref name="Higham"/>

Higham also suggests that the Roman lineage of Ambrosius was highlighted for a reason. Gildas was apparently intentionally connecting him with the legitimate authority and military virtues of the Romans. He was also contrasting him with the subsequent Briton rulers whose reigns lacked in such legitimacy.<ref name="Higham"/>

===Identifying historical figures===
Gildas is a primary source for the [[Battle of Badon]], yet he never mentions the names of the combatants. It is not known if Ambrosius Aurelianus or his successors took part in the battle.<ref name="Korrel"/> The names of the Saxon leaders in the battle are not recorded.

The identities of Ambrosius's descendants are unknown, since Gildas never identifies them by name. It is assumed that they were Gildas's contemporaries and known to the author.<ref name="Korrel"/> Higham suggests that they were prominent figures of the time. Their lineage and identities were probably sufficiently familiar to his intended audience that they did not have to be named.<ref name="Higham"/> The work portrays Ambrosius's descendants as inferior to their ancestor as part of his criticism on rulers of his time, according to Higham. Those criticised were likely aware that the vitriol was intended for them, but probably would not challenge a work offering such a glowing report of their illustrious ancestor.<ref name="Higham"/>

Mike Ashley suggests that the descendants of Ambrosius could include other people named by Gildas. He favours the inclusion in this category of one [[Aurelius Conanus|Aurelius Caninus]] ("Aurelius the dog-like"), whom Gildas accuses of [[parricide]], [[fornication]], [[adultery]], and warmongering. His name "Aurelius" suggests Romano-British descent. The insulting nickname "Caninus" was probably invented by Gildas himself, who similarly insults other contemporary rulers. Due to the name used by Gildas, there are theories that this ruler was actually named [[Conan (disambiguation)|Conan]]/[[Cynan]]/[[Kenan (name)|Kenan]]. Some identify him with [[Cynan Garwyn]], a 6th-century [[Kingdom of Powys|King of Powys]], though it is uncertain if he was a contemporary of Gildas or lived one or two generations following him.<ref name="Ashley"/> Another theory is that this ruler did not reign in Britain but in [[Brittany]]. Caninus, in this view, might be [[Conomor]] ("Great Dog"). Conomor is considered a likelier contemporary of Gildas. Conomor was likely from [[Domnonée]], an area of Brittany controlled by British immigrants from [[Dumnonia]]. He might be remembered in British legend as [[Mark of Cornwall]].<ref name="Ashley"/>

Gildas primarily describes the Saxons as barbarian raiders; their invasions involved a slow and difficult process of military conquest. By AD 500, possibly the time described by Gildas, [[Anglo-Saxons]] controlled the [[Isle of Wight]], [[Kingdom of Kent|Kent]], Lincolnshire, [[Norfolk]], Suffolk, and coastal areas of [[Northumberland]] and [[Yorkshire]]. The rest of the former [[Roman Britain]] was still under the control of the local Britons or remnants of the Roman provincial administration.<ref name="Craughwell"/> Gildas also mentions depopulation of cities and this probably reflects historical facts. [[Londinium]], once a major city, was completely abandoned during the 5th century.<ref name="Craughwell"/><ref name="Ashley"/>