Career
He was one of those responsible for the withdrawal from Britannia. He succeeded his friend Apollinaris, the grandfather of Sidonius Apollinaris, as praetorian prefect of Gaul at the time of the tyrant Constantinus in 409. He was captured by the army commanders of Emperor Honorius and put to death.
About him, Sidonius Apollinaris to his friend Aquilinus:
I find it certainly to my advantage, friend capable of every virtue, and I trust you will feel the same, that we should have as many ties to bind us as we have reasons for being united.
Such ties are hereditary in our families. I do but recall the experience of the past
They had a similar taste in letters, their characters were alike. They had enjoyed similar dignities and undergone the same dangers.
They were equally agreed in detesting the inconstancy of Constantine, the irresolution of Jovinus, the perfidy of Gerontius.
Both singling out the fault proper to each person, and both finding in Dardanus the sum of all existing vices. But there are ties of all kinds, over and above that of this hereditary friendship, which needs must bring us close together. We are linked by equality of years no less than by identity of birthplace.
We played and learned together, shared the same discipline and relaxation, and were trained by the same rule.
lieutenant would indeed crown our vows if the boys who bear the honoured names of Rusticus and Apollinaris renewed within their breasts the hearts of those illustrious ancestors.