Decimus Magnus Ausonius (c. 310-395), was a Roman poet and rhetorician, born at Burdigala (Bordeaux). Events While Constantine was campaigning against the Bructeri, Maximian attempted to make himself emperor at Arles. ... Events After the death of emperor Theodosius I, the Roman Empire is divided in an eastern and a western half. ... A poet is some one who writes poetry. ... Rhetoric (from Greek ρήτωρ, rhêtôr, orator, teacher) is the art or technique of persuasion, usually through the use of language. ... New city flag (traditional tri-crescent) City coat of arms Motto: The fleur-de-lis alone rules over the moon, the waves, the castle, and the lion Coordinates : , Time Zone : CET (GMT +1) Administration Département Gironde (33) Région Aquitaine Mayor Hugues Martin (UMP) (since 2004) Intercommunality Urban Community...

He received an excellent education, especially in grammar and rhetoric, but professed that his progress in Greek was unsatisfactory. Having completed his studies, he practised for some time as an advocate, but he preferred teaching. In 334, he established a school of rhetoric in Bordeaux, which was very popular. His most famous pupil was Paulinus, who later became Bishop of Nola. Pontius Meropius Anicius Paulinus, St. ...

After thirty years of this work, he was summoned by Valentinian to the imperial court, to teach Gratian, the heir-apparent. The prince greatly respected his tutor, and after his accession bestowed on him the highest titles and honours, culminating in the consulate in 379. Ausonius also took part in a military campaign against the Alamanni, and he received the Suebian girl Bissula as his part of the booty. He later addressed a poem to her. Medallion of Valentinian I. Solidus minted by Valens in ca. ... For the 12th century canon lawyer, see Gratian (jurist). ... Consul (abbrev. ... The Alamanni, Allemanni, or Alemanni were an alliance of warbands formed from Germanic tribes, first mentioned by Dio Cassius when they fought Caracalla in 213. ...

After the murder of Gratian in 383, Ausonius retired to his estates near Bordeaux. He appears to have been a late and perhaps not very enthusiastic convert to Christianity. He died about 395. Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on Jesus of Nazareth, and on his life and teachings as presented in the New Testament. ...

Although much admired by his contemporaries, the writings of Ausonius have not since been ranked among Latin literature's best. His style is easy and fluent, but overall he is generally considered derivative and unoriginal. Edward Gibbon observed in the third volume of his Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire that "the poetical fame of Ausonius condemns the taste of his age." However, he is frequently cited by historians of winemaking, as his works give early evidence of large-scale viniculture in the now-famous wine country around his native Bordeaux. Latin literature, the body of written works in the Latin language, remains an enduring legacy of the culture of ancient Rome. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, a major literary achievement of Eighteenth Century, was written by the British historian, Edward Gibbon. ... Wine is an alcoholic beverage produced by the fermentation of fruit, typically grapes though a number of other fruits are also quite popular - such as plum, elderberry and blackcurrant. ...

See also

• French wine

France is one of the oldest wine producing regions of Europe, and also is generally considered to be one of the most prestigious, if not the best. ...

External links

• Latin text of Mosella and the Septem Sententiae

References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.