Cassiodorus

Timeline

1. c. 485–507Squillace (Calabria) · CalabriaCassiodorus came from an ancient Roman noble family in Calabria, his father serving as provincial governor under the Ostrogothic Kingdom. Well educated in rhetoric and law, he gained court favor while still young for his literary talent and entered public service, holding posts such as royal secretary.
2. 507–538Ravenna · Emilia-RomagnaCassiodorus held a succession of important posts under several Ostrogothic rulers (Theodoric, Athalaric, Theodahad, Witiges), serving as royal secretary, consul (514), chief minister, and from 533–537 as Praetorian Prefect. He composed numerous official letters in elegant Latin that bridged the cultural gap between the Roman aristocracy and Gothic rulers; his collection of official correspondence became the later Variae.
3. 538–554Constantinople · ThraceAs the Byzantine conquest of Italy advanced, Cassiodorus left the doomed Ostrogothic regime and went to Constantinople. There he studied Greek theological literature in depth, encountered Eastern monastic traditions, and began planning a theological academy in Rome (never realized); these experiences deeply influenced his later monastic work.
4. c. 554–585Vivarium monastery (near Squillace) · CalabriaAfter returning home, Cassiodorus founded the Vivarium monastery on his family estate, with fishponds (vivarium) and a library, gathering monks to transcribe and translate classical texts. He wrote the Institutiones to plan the monastery's theological and secular curriculum, and edited the Variae, the Gothic History and other works. The monastery became an important cultural waystation from classical civilization to the Middle Ages; Cassiodorus died there around 585, at about a hundred years of age.