Cambridge Ancient Hi.. - Index of

422 15. family and friendship in the west
the association was treasured: he was Sollius noster, 52 suggesting that distant
kin could be worth cultivating, if they were of high enough status or repute.
This is not to say that Ruricius or Avitus were mercenary in their family
affections. Avitus supported Sidonius’ son Apollinaris, in so far as support
was possible, given that they lived in mutually hostile kingdoms. 53 The dismemberment
of the western empire and the division of Gaul into rival
states during the late fifth and early sixth century could present very considerable
problems for those wishing to maintain family ties and old friendships
across new borders: the creation of frontiers within the old empire
brought with it a heightening of suspicion and the possibility of treason
accusations – as can be seen not just from the problems faced by Avitus
and Apollinaris, but also by Caesarius in their own generation 54 and
Sidonius Apollinaris a generation earlier. 55
Ruricius’ correspondence does not record such problems. His attachments
are at their most apparent in his letters written to Namatius and
Ceraunia, the parents of his daughter-in-law, after the girl’s death. Here the
bishop of Limoges reveals depths of emotion not always apparent in his
often over-literary writings. 56 His lament for the deceased shows something
of his attitude towards the next generation of the family: she was ‘a
solace of life, hope for the future, ornament of the family, joy of the heart,
light of the eyes’. Nor did the family connection end with the girl’s death;
Ruricius continued to correspond with both Ceraunia and Namatius, separately
as well as together. 57 Ennodius of Pavia showed a similar concern
with the next generation. He took a considerable interest in his nephews.
He was concerned about his sister Euprepia, and her son Lupicinus, after
the death of Euprepia’s husband. 58 Following the death of another sister,
he took it upon himself to ensure that her child, Parthenius, had a good
education, recommending him to the great rhetor Deuterius at Rome. 59 In
so doing, Ennodius also provides us with precious information on the survival
of schooling in Rome through to the beginning of the sixth century
– evidence which is complemented for Gaul by Ruricius’ references to the
education of the children of his circle at the hands of the rhetor
Hesperius, 60 but which contrasts with the home-based education which
Sidonius had given to Apollinaris for at least a part of his upbringing. 61
Ennodius unquestionably had his eye on future generations of his family.
As a childless cleric he obviously had to look beyond his own immediate
descent group; more specifically he was active on behalf of his sisters’ children:
once again, his actions were those of maternal kin.
52 Ruricius, Ep. 2.26. 53 Avitus, Epp. 24, 36, 51, 52.
54 Vita Caesarii i.21, ed. B. Krusch, MGH, SRM 3. 55 Sid. Ap. Ep. 9.3.1; 9.5.1.
56 Ruricius, Ep. 2.4. 57 Ruricius, Epp. 2.5, 15, 50, 62. 58 Ennodius lxxxiv.
59 Ennodius xciv, ccxxv, cclviii, ccclxix. On the intellectual world of Ennodius see also Kirkby
(1981). 60 Ruricius, Epp. 1.3–5. 61 Sid. Ap. Ep. 4.12.1.
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