Editing Orosius (section)

== Questions regarding his identity ==

=== Name ===
While there is no doubt regarding his surname of Orosius, there are questions regarding the use of the name "Paulus". The problem is that it is not completely certain if he used this name or if he was simply called Orosius and whether Paulus has been added with the passing of time. This could have happened given that the initial "P" for "presbyter" ([[priest]]) was always placed next to his name, and over time this could have led to the confusion.<ref name="torres19">Torres Rodríguez, Casimiro, "Paulo Orosio…", p. 19.</ref>

However, this idea is flawed as authors writing immediately after Orosius's death use the name Paulus. In fact, even Casimiro Torres Rodríguez, one of the main scholars of Orosius's life, indicates that Paulus might be his Christian name and Orosius his native name, a theory that cannot be entirely dismissed.<ref name="torres19"/>

Whatever the truth of the matter this subject has been widely studied and the most current theory is probably that of Pedro Martínez Cavero, another important Orosius scholar.<ref name="cavero26">Martínez Cavero, Pedro,  "El pensamiento…", p. 26. In this section he refers to the author M. P. Annaud-Lindet.</ref>

=== Ó Corráin's conclusions ===

Based on a careful reading of the relevant sources, Irish scholar [[Donnchadh Ó Corráin]] concluded that:

<blockquote>
Orosius, author of ''Historiarum Adversum Paganos Libri vii'', was a [[Briton]], born at latest c. AD 375. Taken by Irish raiders, he spent years (c. AD 400) as a captive, held by traders, on the south shore of the [[Shannon estuary]]. He escaped and probably reached Galicia before AD 405. Ordained a priest, he served at Bracara (now Braga in Portugal). He corresponded with Augustine and moved to Hippo in AD 414. Sent to the East by Augustine, he played an undistinguished role at the councils of Jerusalem and Diospolis (AD 415). He settled at Carthage, where he wrote his main work, originally at the instigation of Augustine. He disappears after a voyage to the Balearic Islands. His is the first textual witness to Christianity in Ireland, observed c. AD 400, written up in AD 416–17.</blockquote>

=== Birthplace ===
[[File:Braga-vale do Rio Este.jpg|alt=|thumb|503x503px|Panorama of present-day Braga, the most likely birthplace for Orosius.<ref name="cavero22"/>]]
The subject of his birthplace is still disputed although a broad consensus has now been reached.<ref name="cavero22">Martínez Cavero, Pedro,  "El pensamiento…", p. 22.</ref>  Basically there are four theories regarding his birthplace, that can be summarised as follows:

* ''Born in [[Braga]]'': this idea is most widely accepted as it has the most evidence supporting it. If he was not born in Braga, it is likely he was born in the area around the town. This idea is supported by Orosius's own works and two letters written by Augustine, the 166th and the 169th.<ref name="cavero22"/>
* ''Born in [[Tarragona]]'': this theory has been put forward because in his ''Histories'' Orosius talks of "Tarraconem nostra" (our Tarragona). The 19th-century author Teodoro de Mörner<ref>Theodor von Mörner was a 19th-century historian who wrote ''De Orosii Vita Eiusque Historiarum Libris Septem Adversus Paganos''.</ref> held this opinion, but nowadays it does not seem reasonable to support the idea solely based on one indication.<ref name="cavero24">Martínez Cavero, Pedro,  "El pensamiento…", p. 24.</ref>
* ''Originated in [[A Coruña]] (Brigantia)'': this is a relatively new theory solely based on the fact that Orosius twice mentioned it in the geographical section of his ''Histories''.
* ''Originated in [[Brittany]]'': like the previous theory the supporting data for this theory rests on the fact that Orosius had some knowledge of this area.<ref name="cavero25">Martínez Cavero, Pedro, "El pensamiento…", p. 25.</ref>

=== Date of birth ===
Lastly, his supposed date of birth varies between sources, however, a likely date has now been calculated. It is known for certain that in 415 Augustine referred to Paulus Orosius as "a young priest", which means that at that time he could not have been older than 40, as he was young, and he had to be older than 30, as he was a priest.<ref name="torres27">Torres Rodríguez, Casimiro, "Paulo Orosio…", p. 27.</ref>

Therefore, his date of birth can be fixed as being between 375 and 385, although the most widely accepted date is considered to be 383. This assumes that when Orosius met Augustine he was 32 years old, that is, he had been an ordained priest for two years.<ref name="cavero26"/>