490?-585?

Roman Statesman and Historian

Flavius Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus was born in Scylletium, Bruttium, in the Kingdom of the Ostrogoths (in modern Italy) in around 490. Cassiodorus was a statesman, historian, and monk and is credited with saving Roman culture from impending barbarism.

Cassiodorus was born as the son of a governor during the period of the Ostrogothic kings in Italy. He served as an apprentice to his father until he became a statesman in his own right. In 507 he was appointed quaestor, which was followed by an appointment to consul in 514. In 526 he became the chief of the civil service. He attained his last political post in 533 when he was selected as praetorian prefect. As a statesman under the Ostrogoths, Cassiodorus was interested in public education and developing a sound infrastructure to support it. He was relatively successful in this endeavor and...