Claudius Mamertinus

Background

Neither the date of birth nor the birth place of Claudius Mamertinus are unknown.

Career

After the death of Julian, by whom Mamertinus was evidently regarded with special favour, he was praefect of Italy (365) under Valens and Valentinian, but was subsequently (368) deprived of his office for embezzlement. He was the author of an extant speech of thanks to Julian for raising him to the consulship, delivered on January 1, 362, at Constantinople. Two panegyrical addresses (also extant) to Maximian (emperor 286-305 A. D. ) are attributed to an older magisler Mamertinus, but it is probable that the corrupt MS. superscription contains the word memoriae, and that they are by an unknown magister merrioriae (an official whose duty consisted in communicating imperial re scripts and decisions to the public). The first of these was delivered on the birthday of Rome (April 21, 289), probably at Maximian's palace at Augusta Trevirorum (T réves), the second in 290 or 291, on the birthday of the emperor. By some they are attributed to Eumenius, who was a magisler memoriae and the author of at least one (if not more) panegyrics.

Achievements

• Claudius Mamertinus was a noted official, author of a panegyric on the emperor Julian delivered at Constantinople in 362 A. D. in the form of a gratiarum actio (thanksgiving) for the orator’s elevation to the consulship.