Claudius Postumus Dardanus was a praetorian prefect of

Gaul Gaul ( la, Gallia) was a region of Western Europe first described by the Romans. It was inhabited by Celtic and Aquitani tribes, encompassing present-day France, Belgium, Luxembourg, most of Switzerland, parts of Northern Italy (only during ...

from the early fifth century AD, who was against

Jovinus :''Jovinus is a Roman cognomen, most often used for a 5th-century Roman usurper emperor. This article is about the Roman usurper. For the saint, see Saint Jovinus. For the Frankish duke, see Jovinus of Provence.'' For the 4th century Roman general ...

, considered as a usurper of imperial authority. Dardanus made him suffer the last penalty after he had been defeated in Valencia by King of the Goths

Ataulf Athaulf (also ''Athavulf'', ''Atawulf'', or ''Ataulf'' and ''Adolf'', Latinized as ''Ataulphus'') ( 37015 August 415) was king of the Visigoths from 411 to 415. During his reign, he transformed the Visigothic state from a tribal kingdom to a maj ...

. In all likelihood, Dardanus came from a modest background and due to his studies and abilities reached the status of a patrician (an honorary position in the Lower Empire related to the acquisition of effective status as a senator), and access to the post of prefect of the Gauls twice, probably the first time in 401-404 or 406-407 and 412–413 in a second time after the transfer in 407 of the seat of praetorian prefecture of Gaul from Augusta Treverorum (Trier) to Arelate (Arles). Dardanus was

converted Conversion or convert may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * "Conversion" (''Doctor Who'' audio), an episode of the audio drama ''Cyberman'' * "Conversion" (''Stargate Atlantis''), an episode of the television series * "The Conversion" ...

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...

and then retired to the Alps, where he began a correspondence with

Jerome Jerome (; la, Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus; grc-gre, Εὐσέβιος Σωφρόνιος Ἱερώνυμος; – 30 September 420), also known as Jerome of Stridon, was a Christian presbyter, priest, Confessor of the Faith, confessor, th ...

and

Augustine of Hippo Augustine of Hippo ( , ; la, Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430), also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Af ...

. An admirer of St. Augustine, with whom he had established a correspondence, he founded an institution called Theopolis (Greek: "City of God"). This institution was established in his domain, for which he expanded on both sides of the road leading from

Sisteron Sisteron (; , oc, label=Mistralian norm, Sisteroun; from oc, label=Old Occitan, Sestaron) is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, southeastern France. Sisteron is situated on the banks of the rive ...

to the present village of Saint-Geniez to which it gives the walls and doors. No archaeological remains of this city exist, only a Latin inscription carved in the rock face along the road.

References

Andreas Agnellus Andreas Agnellus of Ravenna (c. 794/799 – after 846) was a historian of the bishops in his city. The date of his death is not recorded, although his history mentions the death of archbishop George of Ravenna in 846; Oswald Holder-Egger cites a pap ...

, ''Liber pontificalis ecclesiae Ravennatis'' (« Annales de Ravenne »). Translated in English in Deborah Mauskopf Deliyannis, ''The Book of Pontiffs of the Church of Ravenna''. Washington: Catholic University of America Press, 2004. * Sidonius Apollinaris, ''Lettres'', V, 9.1. ''Lettre à Aquilinus''. Édition des Belles-Lettres (Collection des Universités de France), Tome II, vol. 199.
The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire by John Robert Martindale, through Google Books
{{Authority control Praetorian prefects of Gaul Converts to Christianity from pagan religions 5th-century Christians 5th-century Gallo-Roman people