Eutropius the Historian (Εὐτρόπιος ὁ ἱστορικός)

Life Eutropius was a Roman historian and high-ranking official of the 4th century CE. He served as magister memoriae under Emperor Valens and accompanied Emperor Julian on the Persian campaign of 363 CE, an experience he later referenced [1][2][3]. He dedicated his historical work to Valens in 369 or 370 CE, indicating his active role at the imperial court during that period [1][4].

Works His sole surviving work is the Breviarium ab urbe condita, a concise history of Rome from its foundation to the reign of Emperor Jovian in 364 CE [1][2][4].

Significance Eutropius’s Breviarium was immensely popular for its clear and accessible Latin prose [1][2]. It exemplifies a genre of historical writing focused on factual summary for educated readers and administrators [1][4]. Translated into Greek and used as a standard text, it became a key source for later historians like Jerome and Orosius, transmitting a condensed version of Roman history for centuries [1][2][4].

Sources 1. Encyclopædia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eutropius-Roman-official 2. World History Encyclopedia: https://www.worldhistory.org/Eutropius/ 3. Perseus Digital Library, Eutropius, Breviarium, Preface: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0060 4. Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (via Perseus): http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0104:entry=eutropius-bio-2