Combéfis was
disposed
to
resort to Bagdad.
resort to Bagdad.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - b
PHILOSUTHUS.
[No.
29.
)
Priora Analytica Aristotelis. This was printed 23. PERIPATETICUS. (No. 17. )
with the commentary of Joannes Philoponus on the 24. Of Pella. (No. 3. ]
same work, by Trincavellus, fol. Venice, 1536 ; 25. PYTHAGORICUS. [No. 20. ]
and a Latin version of it by Rasarius has been re- 26. RHETOR. [Nos. 4 and 7. ]
peatedly printed, either separately, or with other 27. Sapiens. [LEO VI. emperor. )
coinmentaries on Aristotle. The following works 28. STYPIOTA or STYPPA (ETUTAS), or STYPA
in MS. are ascribed, but with doubtful correctness, (ITunñs), patriarch of Constantinople in the twelfth
to Leo Magentenus: 3. Commentarius in Cate century. His patriarchate extended from A. D. 1134
gorias Aristotelis, is extant in the King's Library to 1143 (Fabric. Bill. Graec. vol. vii. p. 721, rol
at Paris. 4. 'Aplototélous copioTIKÊ é Aéyxwv xi. p. 666). He died just about the time of the ac-
épunvela, Expositio Aristotelis De Sophisticis Elen- cession of the Byzantine emperor Manuel Comnenus,
chis: and 5. 'AplotoTÉNOUS Tepi evropías Tpotáoew, who appointed as Leo's successor Michael Curcuas,
These two works are mentioned by Montfaucon a monk of Oxeia, by whom he was himself crowned.
(Bibl. Coislin. p. 225). The latter is, perhaps, not (Nicetas Choniat. De Manuele Comneno, i. 2. ) A
à distinct work, but' a portion of No. 1. In the decree of Leo on the lawfulness of certain mar-
MS. the author is called Leontius Magentenus. riages, is given in the Jus Orientale of Bonefidius
6. Commentarius in Isagogen. s. Quinque Voces Por- (eouol 'ApXlepatikol, Sunction. Pontific. p. 59)
phyri. Buhle doubts if this work, which is in the and in the Jus Graeco-Romanum of Leunclavius
Medicean library at Florence (Bandini, Catalog. (Lib. iii. vol. i. p. 217). He is often cited by
Codd. Laur. Medic. vol. iii. p. 239), is correctly Nicolaus Comnenus Papadopoli. (Fabric. Il. cc. )
ascribed to Magentenus. In the catalogue of the 29. Of THESSALONICA, an eminent Byzantine
MSS. in the king's library at Paris (vol. ii. pp. 410, philosopher and ecclesiastic of the ninth century.
421), two MSS. Nos. mdcccxlv. and mcnxxviii. , of the time or place of his birth nothing is
contain Scholia on the Categoriae, the Anulytica known. He was the kinsman of the iconoclast
Priora et Posteriora, and the Topica of Aristotle, Joannes (or as his enemies called him, on account
and on the Isagoge of Porphyry, by MAGNENTIUS. of his obnoxious sentiments, Jannes), who was of
Buhle conjectures, with probability, that Magnen- the illustrious family of the Morocharzamii or Mo-
tius is a corruption of Magentenus or Magentinus : rochardanii, tutor of the emperor Theophilus, and
if so, and the works are assigned to their real author, patriarch of Constantinople, from about a. D. 832
we must add the commentaries on the Topica and —842. (Theoph. Contin. iv. 26, comp. c. 6 ; and
the Analytica Posteriora to the works already men- Symeon Magister, De Michaele et Theodora, c.
tioned. Nicolaus Comnenus Papadopoli speaks of 2. ) Leo was characterized by his devotion to
many other works of Leo, but his authority is of learning: he studied grammar and poetry
" while
little value. (Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. iii. pp. 210, staying (diatpićww) at Constantinople,” an ex-
213, 215, 218, 498, vii. 717, viii. 143, xii. 208 ; pression which seems to indicate that he was not a
Montfaucon, l. c. and p. 219 ; Buble, Opera Aris native of that city ; and rhetoric, philosophy, and
totelis, vol. i. pp. 165, 305, 306, ed. Bipont; Cata- arithmetic, under Michael Psellus, in the island of
log. MStor. Biblioth. Regiae, fol. Paris, 1740, 1. c. ) Andros. He visited the monasteries in the adjacent
18. MALEÏNUS (Maretvos), governor of the parts of continental Greece, examining and using
towns of Hierax, Stylus and others, in the middle their libraries, and studying and meditating upon
of the twelfth century. A decree of his with a the volumes obtained from them, amid the solitude
Latin version is given by Montfaucon, Palaeogra- of the mountains. Having thus acquired a great
phia Graeca, p. 410, &c.
store of knowledge, not only in the sciences abore
19. MEDICUS. (No. 29. )
mentioned, but in geometry, astronomy, including
20. Of METAPONTUM. lamblichus (Pythag. Vit. astrology, and music, he again visited Constanti.
c. 36) mentions a Pythagorean philosopher of this nople, and imparted his intellectual stores to those
name and place, but without giving any further who resorted to him for instruction. (Theophan.
particulars, or assigning to him any date. It is Continuat. iv. 29; Cedrenus, Compendium, p. 547,
conjectured that he is the Leo to whom Alcmaeon &c. , ed. Paris, vol. ii. p. 165, &c. , ed. Bonn. )
of Crotona (ALCMAEON] dedicated his aóyos Neither his learning, however, nor his connexions
QUALKÓs, or work on natural philosophy (Diog. sufficed to raise him from obscurity, until he became,
Laërt viii 83). Fabricius also proposes to iden- by a remarkable accident, known to the emperor
tify him with the Leo, son of Neoclis, whose Theophilus. A pupil of Leo, whom he had in-
Stoixeia, Elementa sc. Geometrica are inentioned s:ructed in geometry, accepted the office of secretary
by Proclus (Comment. in Euclid. Lib. ii. c. 4. p. I to a military officer, during the war between the
## p. 746 (#762) ############################################
746
LEO.
LEO.
emperor and the caliph Al-Mamoun ; and, falling / which name the subject of the present article, who
into the hands of the Moslems, or treacherously appears to have practised astrology (Theoph. Contin.
deserting to them, at the fall of Amorium (A. D. iv. 28, v. 14), is probably meant (Fabricius, Bibl.
839), became known to the caliph, who was a Graec. vol. iv. p. 148, Graec. De Marci Billioth. p.
liberal patron of science. The young man, though 153; Catalog. Codd. MStorum Bibl. Regiue, Paris,
he excited the admiration of the caliph and his fol. 1740, vol. ii. pp. 499, 500): but the Métobus
court, by his geometrical attainments, professed apoyvwOTIK, Methodus Prognostica or instructions
himself to be not a master, but only a learner," and for divining by the Gospel or the Psalter, by Leo
80 highly extolled the knowledge of Leo, that he Sapiens, in the Medicean library at Florence (Ban-
was forth with despatched to Constantinople, with dini, Catalog. Codd. Laur. Medic. vol iii. p. 339), is
a letter to him, inviting him to leave that city and perhaps by another Leo.
Combéfis was disposed to
resort to Bagdad. Fearful of being suspected of a cnim for Leo of Thessalonica the authorship of the
treasonable correspondence with the enemy, Leo celebrated Xpnouol, Oracula, which are commonly
showed the letter to the logothete Theoctistus, by ascribed to the emperor Leo VI. Sapiens, or the wise,
whom the matter was reported to the emperor. and have been repeatedly published. But Leo of
Leo was thus made known to Theophilus. ' The Thessalonica is generally designated in the Byzan-
emperor first appointed him public teacher or pro- tine writers the philosopher (60opos), not the
fessor, assigning hin the church of the Forty wise(cópos), and if the published Oracula are a part
Martyrs as a school, and soon after ordered the of the series mentioned by Zonaras (xv. 21), they
patriarch Joanncs, who appears hitherto to have must be older than either the emperor or Leo of
neglected his learned kinsman, to ordain him arch- Thessalonica. (Fabric. Bild. Gracc. vol. iv. pp. 148,
bishop of Thessalonica (Theoph. Continuat iv. 27 ; 158, vol. vii. p. 697, vol. xi. p. 665 ; Allatius, De
comp. Symeon Magister, De Theophilo. c. 18—20; Psellis, c. 3—6 ; Labbe, De Byzant. Histor. Scrip-
Georg. Monach. De Theophilo. c. 22, 23 ; Cedrenus, torib. MpotpeTTiKÓv, pars secunda, p. 45. ) (J. C. M. ]
Compendium, 1. c. ; Zonar. xvi. 4). After three years, LEO, Latin ecclesiastics. ]. The first of that
when Theophilus died (a. D. 342), and the govern- name who occupied the papal throne, is usually
ment came into the hands of his widow Theodora, as styled the GREAT. . He was a native of Rome,
the guardian of her son Michael, the iconoclastic and must have been born towards the close of the
party was overthrown, and Leo and Joannes were fourth century, although the precise year is
deposed from their sees : but Leo, whose worth unknown. Nothing has been recorded con-
appears to have secured respect, escaped the suffer- cerning his parents, except that his father was
ings which fell to his kinsman's lot (Theoph. Cont. called Quintianus, nor with regard to his early
iv. 9, 26; Sym. Mag. De Theoph. c. 20, De Mis training ; but when we remark the erudition and
chacle, c. 1); and when the Caesar Bardas, anxious polished accuracy displayed in his writings, and
for the revival of learning, established the Mathema- the early age at which he rose to offices of high
tical school at the palace of Magnaura, in Constan- trust, it becomes manifest that his great natural
tinople, Leo was placed at its head, with one, if not talents must have been cultivated with uncommon
more of his former pupils for his fellow-teachers. assiduity and skill. While yet an acolyte he was
(Theoph. Contin. iv. 26 ; Cedrenus and Zo- despatched, in A. D. 418, to Carthage, for the pur-
naras, lh cc. ) Leo was faithful to the interests of pose of conveying to Aurelius and the other African
Bardas, whom he warned of the insidious designs bishops the sentiments of Zosimus concerning the
of Basilius the Macedonian, afterwards emperor Pelagian doctrines of Coelestius. (COELESTIUS. )
(Sym. Mag. De Michaele et Theodora, c. 40; Georg. Under Coelestinus (CORLESTINUS] he discharged
Monach. De Mich. et Theodoru, c. 25, 26). An the duties of a deacon ; and the reputation even
anecdote recorded both by Symeon (De Basilio then (431) enjoyed by him is clearly indicated by
Maced. c. 5) and George (De Basil. Maced. c. 4), the terms of the epistle prefixed to the seven books,
shews that Leo was living in A. D. 869: how much De Incarnatione Christi, of Cassianus, who at his
later is not known.
request had undertaken this work against the
Symeon (De Mich. et Theodora, c. 46) has de- Nestorian heresy. Having obtained the full con-
scribed a remarkable method of telegraphic com- fidence of Sixtus III. , to whom he rendered much
munication, invented by Leo, and practised in the good service, he attracted the notice of Valentinian
reigns of Theophilus and his son Michael. Fires | III. , and by the orders of the emperor undertook a
kindled at certain hours of the day conveyed intel- mission to Gaul, in order to soothe the formidable
ligence of hostile incursions, battles, conflagrations, dissensions of Aëtius and Albinus. [AETIUS. ]
and the other incidents of war, from the confines of While Leo was engaged in this delicate negotiation,
Syria to Constantinople ; the hour of kindling in which was conducted with singular prudence and
dicating the nature of the incident, according to an perfect success, the chief pontiff died, and by the
arranged plan, marked on the dial plate of a clock unanimous voice of the clergy and laity the absent
kept in the castle of Lulus, near Tarsus, and of a deacon was chosen to fill the vacant seat, and on
corresponding one in the palace at Constantinople. his return was solemnly installed, A. D. 440.
Leo Allatius, in his Excerpta Varia Graecor, From the earliest ages until this epoch no man
Sophistarum, has given (p. 398) Aéovtos Toll PIAO- who combined lofty ambition with commanding
oópov Kapkivo, Versus Carcini Leonis Philosophi, intellect and political dexterity had presided over
i. e. verses which may be read either backward or the Roman see: and although its influence had
forward. They are probably the same which are gradually increased, and many popes had sought to
in some MSS. or catalogues ascribed to Leo Gram- extend and confirm that influence, yet they had
maticus (see above, No. 15], but may be more pro- merely availed themselves of accidental circum-
bably ascribed to our Leo, among whose early stances to augment their own personal authority,
studies poetry is mentioned. Several astrological without acting upon any distinci and well devised
collectanea extant in MS. in different European scheme. But Leo, while he sedulously watched
libraries, contain portions by Leo Philosophus, by over the purity of his own peculiar Hock, concen-
## p. 747 (#763) ############################################
LEO.
747
LEO.
trated all the powers of his energetic mind upon a higher court, was eventually induced, either by
one great design, which he seems to have formed policy or conviction, to reject the application, and
at a very early period, which he kept stedfastly in drew up an elaborate epistic to the patriarch Fla-
view during a long and eventful life, and which he vianus, in which the Catholic doctrine of the
followed out with consummate boldness, persever- Incarnation was authoritatively expounded and
ance, and talent. This was nothing less than to defined. Meanwhile, a general council was sum-
establish the “ Apostolic Chair" in acknowledged moned to be held on the 1st of August, 449, at
spiritual supremacy over every branch of the Ca- Ephesus, and thither the ambassadors of Leo re-
tholic church, and to appropriate to its occupant paired, for the purpose of reading publicly the
exclusively the title of Papa, or father of the whole above letter. But a great majority of the con-
Christian world. Nor yere the evil days amid gregated fathers acting under control of the pre-
which his lot was cast unfavourable, as might at sident, Dioscuros of Alexandria, refused to listen
first sight be imagined, to such a project. The to the document, passed tumultuously a series of
church, it is true, was every where distracted and resolutions favourable to Eutyches, excommunicated
torn by the strife of parties, and by innumerable the most zealous of his opponents, and not only
heresies, while the character of its ministers had treated the Roman envoys with indignity, but
grievously degenerated. The empire in the West even offered violence to their persons. Hence this
was pressed on every side by hordes of barbarians, assembly, whose acts were all subsequently an-
who were threatening to pour down upon Italy nulled, is known in ecclesiastical history as the
itself. But in this season of confusion the contend-Synodus Latrocinalis. The vehement complaints
ing factions among the orthodox clergy, terrified by addressed to Theodosius by the orthodox leaders
the rapid progress of Arianism, were well disposed proved fruitless, and the triumph of their opponents
to refer their own minor disputes to arbitration, was for a time complete, when the sudden death of
and to acquiesce in the decision of one pre-eminent the emperor in 450 again awakened the hopes and
in learning and dignity. Leo, who well knew, called forth the exertions of Leo. In consequence
from the example of his predecessor Innocentius, of the pressing representations of his envoys, Ana-
that the transition is easy from instruction to com- tolius, the successor of Flavianus, together with all
inand, in the numerous and elaborate replies which the clergy of Constantinople, were induced to sub-
he addressed to inquiries proceeding from various scribe the Confession of Faith. contained in the
quarters, while he conveyed the information sought, Epistle to Flavianus, and to transmit it for sig-
or resolved the doubts proposed, studiously adopted nature to all the dioceses of the East. Encouraged
a tone of absolute infallibility, and assumed the by this success, Leo solicited the new monarch
right of enforcing obedience to his dictates as an Marcianus to summon a grand council, for the final
unquestionable prerogative of his office. On the adjustment of the questions concerning the nature
other hand, the barbarian chiefs whose power was of Christ, which still proved a source of discord,
not yet consolidated were eager to propitiate one and strained every nerve to have it held in Italy,
who possessed such weight with the priesthood, where his own adherents would necessarily have
and through them could either calm into submission preponderated. In this, however, he failed. Nicaea
or excite to rebellion an ignorant and fanatic mul- was the place first fixed upon, but it eventually met
titude. Hence these also proved powerful, although at Chalcedon in October, 45). Although the Roman
unconscious, instruments in forwarding the great legates, whose language was of the most imperious
enterprise. But even after the minds of men were description, did not fail broadly to assert the pre-
in some degree prepared and disposed to yield to tensions put forth by the representative of St.
such domination, it was scarcely to be expected Peter, at first all went snioothly. The Epistle to
that it could be firmly fixed without exciting jea- Flavianus was admitted as a rule of faith for the
lousy and resistance. Accordingly, & strong op guidance of the universal church, and no protest
position was speedily organised both in the West was entered against the spirit of arrogant assump-
and in the East, which soon assumed the attitude tion in which it was conceived. But when the
of open defiance. In the West the contest was whole of the special business was concluded, at the
brought to an issue by the controversy with very last sitting, a formal resolution was proposed
Hilarius of Arles concerning the deposition of Che- and passed, to the effect that while the Roman see
lidonius. (HILARIUS Arelatensis. ) The total de- was, in virtue of its antiquity, entitled to take
feat and severe punishment of the Gaulish bishop formal precedence of every other, the see of Con-
filled his supporters with terror, and the edict of stantinople was to stand next in rank, was to be
Valentinian issued upon this occasion served as a regarded as independent of every other, and to
sort of charter, in virtue of which the Roman exercise full jurisdiction over the churches of
bishops exercised for centuries undisputed juris- Asia, Thrace, and Pontus. The resistance of Leo
diction over France, Spain, Germany, and Britain. was all in vain. The obnoxious canons were fully
In the East the struggle was much more com-confirmed, and thus one half of the sovereignty at
plicated, the result much less satisfactory. The which he aimed was for ever lost, at the very mo-
Archimandrite Eutyches [EUTYCH ES), in his ve- ment when victory seemed no longer doubtful.
hement denunciation of Nestorius, having been be- Two other events in the active life of this re-
trayed into errors, very different indeed, but equally markable man must not be passed over in silence.
dangerous, was anathematised, deposed, and ex- In 452, when Attila was advancing in full career
communicated, in A. D. 448, by the synod of Con- upon Rome, Leo was selected as the chief of an
stantinople. Against this sentence he sought embassy, sent forth in the forlorn hope of pro-
redress, by soliciting the interference of the bishops pitiating the fierce conqueror. What the arguments
of Alexandria and Rome. By the former his cause employed by the eloquent suppliant may have
was eagerly espoused; the latter, although at first been history has failed to record. The result is
disposed to listen favourably to a complaint which well known. The Hun not only spared the me
be chose to regard as an appeal from an inferior to tropolis, but evacuated Italy, and returned with his
## p. 748 (#764) ############################################
748
LEO.
LEO.
|
army to the Danube. Again in 455, when the mence with that which issued from the press of
city lay at the mercy of the Vandals, Genseric was Sweynheym and Pannartz (Rom. fol. 1470), under
persuaded by the entreaties of Leo to forego his the inspection of Andrew, bishop of Aleria, com-
purpose of general conflagration and massacre, and prising ninety-two Sermones and five Epistolue, it is
to be content with pillage-a concession which, unnecessary to give any detailed account, since two
when we consider the circumstances of the case are decidedly superior to all others.
and the temper of the chief, indicates the influence The first is that published at Paris in 1675, in
of the pontiff not less forcibly than his success two large quarto tomes, by Pasquier Quesnel, who
with Attila.
by the aid of a large number of MSS. , preserved
His last anxiety arose from the tumults excited chiefly in the libraries of France, was enabled to
in the church at Alexandria about 457 by the dis introduce such essential improvements into the
orderly proceedings of Timotheus Ielurus. Ilaving text, and by his erudite industry illustrated so
united with the emperor of the East and with the clearly the obscurities in which many of the do-
patriarch of Constantinople in restoring order and cuments were involved, that the works of Leo now
discipline, and having written a congratulatory for the first time assumed an unmutilated, intelli-
letter to the clerky of Alexandria upon the happy gible, and satisfactory aspect. But the admiration
termination of their troubles, he soon after died, excited by the skill with which the arduous task
on the 10th of November, 461.
had been executed soon received a check. Upon
The works of Leo consist of discourses delivered attentive perus:ll, the notes and dissertations were
on the great festivals of the church or other so- found to contain such free remarks upon many of
lemn occasions, and of letters.
the opinions and usages of the primitive church,
I. Sermones. Of these we possess ninety-six. and, above all, to manifest such unequivocal hos-
There are five De Natuli ipsius, preached on an- tility to the despotism of the Roman see, that the
niversaries of his ordination, six De Collectis, nine volumes fell under the ban of the Inquisition within
De Jejunio Decimi Níensis, ten De Nativitate Do- a year after their publication, and were included in
mini, eight In Epiphania Domini, twelve De Quad- the “Index Librorum Prohibitorum ” of 1682.
rrugesima, one De Transfiguratione Domini, nineteen Notwithstanding these denunciations, the book en-
De Passione Domini, two De Resurrectione Domini, joyed great popularity, and was reprinted, without
two De Ascensione Domini, three De Pentecoste, four | any suppression or modification of the obnoxious
De Jejunio Pentecostes, one In Natali Apostolorum passages, at Lyons in 1700. Hence the heads of
Petri et Pauli, one In Natali S. Petri Apostoli, one the Romish church became anxious to supply an
In Octavis Apostolorum Petri et Pauli, one In Na- antidote to the poison so extensively circulated.
tali S. Laurentii Nartyris, nine De Jejunio Septimi | This undertaking was first attempted by Peter
Mensis, one De Gradibus Ascensionis ad Beatitudi- Cacciari, a Carmelite monk of the Propaganda,
nem, one Tractatus contra Hueresim Eutychis. whose labours (S. Leonis Magni Opera omnia,
11. Epistolae. These, extending to the number Rom. 1753—1755, 2 vols. fol. ; Exercitationes in
of 173, are addressed to the reigning emperors and Universa S. Leonis Magni Opera, Rom. fol. 1751),
their consorts, to synods, to religious communities, might have attracted attention and praise had they
to bishops and other dignitaries, and to sundry in- not been, at the very moment when they were
fluential personages connected with the ecclesiastical brought to a close, entirely thrown into the shade
history of the times. They afford an immense mass by those of the brothers Peter and Jerome Balle-
of most valuable information on the prevailing rini, presbyters of Verona, whose edition appeared
heresies, controversies, and doubts, with regard to at Verona in three volumes folio in the course of
matters of doctrine, discipline, and church govern- the years 1755–1757, and is entitled to take the
first place both in purity of the text, corrected from
Besides the ninety-six Sermones and 173 Epis- / a great number of MSS. , chiefly Roman, not before
tolae mentioned above, a considerable number of collated, in the arrangement of the different parts,
tracts have from time to time been ascribed to the and in the notes and disquisitions. A full de-
same author ; but their authenticity is either so scription of these volumes, as well as of those of
doubtful, or their spuriousness so evident, that Quesnel and Cacciari, is to be found in Schöne
they are now universally set aside. A list of these, mann, who has bestowed more than usual care
and an investigation of their origin, will be found upon this section.
in the edition of the brothers Ballerini, more par- (Maimbourg, Histoire du Pontificat de Léon,
ticularly described below.
Paris, 4to. 1687 ; the dissertations of Quesnel and
In consequence of the reputation deservedly en- the Ballerini ; Schönemann, Bibl. Patrum Lat. vol.
joved by Leo, his writings have always been ii. $ 42 ; Arendt, Leo der Grosse, Mainz. 8vo.
eagerly studied. But, although a vast number of 1835; Bähr, Gesch. der Röm. Literat. Suppl. Band.
MSS. are still in existence, none of these exhibit 11e Abtheil. § 159—162. )
his works in a complete form, and no attempt 2.
Priora Analytica Aristotelis. This was printed 23. PERIPATETICUS. (No. 17. )
with the commentary of Joannes Philoponus on the 24. Of Pella. (No. 3. ]
same work, by Trincavellus, fol. Venice, 1536 ; 25. PYTHAGORICUS. [No. 20. ]
and a Latin version of it by Rasarius has been re- 26. RHETOR. [Nos. 4 and 7. ]
peatedly printed, either separately, or with other 27. Sapiens. [LEO VI. emperor. )
coinmentaries on Aristotle. The following works 28. STYPIOTA or STYPPA (ETUTAS), or STYPA
in MS. are ascribed, but with doubtful correctness, (ITunñs), patriarch of Constantinople in the twelfth
to Leo Magentenus: 3. Commentarius in Cate century. His patriarchate extended from A. D. 1134
gorias Aristotelis, is extant in the King's Library to 1143 (Fabric. Bill. Graec. vol. vii. p. 721, rol
at Paris. 4. 'Aplototélous copioTIKÊ é Aéyxwv xi. p. 666). He died just about the time of the ac-
épunvela, Expositio Aristotelis De Sophisticis Elen- cession of the Byzantine emperor Manuel Comnenus,
chis: and 5. 'AplotoTÉNOUS Tepi evropías Tpotáoew, who appointed as Leo's successor Michael Curcuas,
These two works are mentioned by Montfaucon a monk of Oxeia, by whom he was himself crowned.
(Bibl. Coislin. p. 225). The latter is, perhaps, not (Nicetas Choniat. De Manuele Comneno, i. 2. ) A
à distinct work, but' a portion of No. 1. In the decree of Leo on the lawfulness of certain mar-
MS. the author is called Leontius Magentenus. riages, is given in the Jus Orientale of Bonefidius
6. Commentarius in Isagogen. s. Quinque Voces Por- (eouol 'ApXlepatikol, Sunction. Pontific. p. 59)
phyri. Buhle doubts if this work, which is in the and in the Jus Graeco-Romanum of Leunclavius
Medicean library at Florence (Bandini, Catalog. (Lib. iii. vol. i. p. 217). He is often cited by
Codd. Laur. Medic. vol. iii. p. 239), is correctly Nicolaus Comnenus Papadopoli. (Fabric. Il. cc. )
ascribed to Magentenus. In the catalogue of the 29. Of THESSALONICA, an eminent Byzantine
MSS. in the king's library at Paris (vol. ii. pp. 410, philosopher and ecclesiastic of the ninth century.
421), two MSS. Nos. mdcccxlv. and mcnxxviii. , of the time or place of his birth nothing is
contain Scholia on the Categoriae, the Anulytica known. He was the kinsman of the iconoclast
Priora et Posteriora, and the Topica of Aristotle, Joannes (or as his enemies called him, on account
and on the Isagoge of Porphyry, by MAGNENTIUS. of his obnoxious sentiments, Jannes), who was of
Buhle conjectures, with probability, that Magnen- the illustrious family of the Morocharzamii or Mo-
tius is a corruption of Magentenus or Magentinus : rochardanii, tutor of the emperor Theophilus, and
if so, and the works are assigned to their real author, patriarch of Constantinople, from about a. D. 832
we must add the commentaries on the Topica and —842. (Theoph. Contin. iv. 26, comp. c. 6 ; and
the Analytica Posteriora to the works already men- Symeon Magister, De Michaele et Theodora, c.
tioned. Nicolaus Comnenus Papadopoli speaks of 2. ) Leo was characterized by his devotion to
many other works of Leo, but his authority is of learning: he studied grammar and poetry
" while
little value. (Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. iii. pp. 210, staying (diatpićww) at Constantinople,” an ex-
213, 215, 218, 498, vii. 717, viii. 143, xii. 208 ; pression which seems to indicate that he was not a
Montfaucon, l. c. and p. 219 ; Buble, Opera Aris native of that city ; and rhetoric, philosophy, and
totelis, vol. i. pp. 165, 305, 306, ed. Bipont; Cata- arithmetic, under Michael Psellus, in the island of
log. MStor. Biblioth. Regiae, fol. Paris, 1740, 1. c. ) Andros. He visited the monasteries in the adjacent
18. MALEÏNUS (Maretvos), governor of the parts of continental Greece, examining and using
towns of Hierax, Stylus and others, in the middle their libraries, and studying and meditating upon
of the twelfth century. A decree of his with a the volumes obtained from them, amid the solitude
Latin version is given by Montfaucon, Palaeogra- of the mountains. Having thus acquired a great
phia Graeca, p. 410, &c.
store of knowledge, not only in the sciences abore
19. MEDICUS. (No. 29. )
mentioned, but in geometry, astronomy, including
20. Of METAPONTUM. lamblichus (Pythag. Vit. astrology, and music, he again visited Constanti.
c. 36) mentions a Pythagorean philosopher of this nople, and imparted his intellectual stores to those
name and place, but without giving any further who resorted to him for instruction. (Theophan.
particulars, or assigning to him any date. It is Continuat. iv. 29; Cedrenus, Compendium, p. 547,
conjectured that he is the Leo to whom Alcmaeon &c. , ed. Paris, vol. ii. p. 165, &c. , ed. Bonn. )
of Crotona (ALCMAEON] dedicated his aóyos Neither his learning, however, nor his connexions
QUALKÓs, or work on natural philosophy (Diog. sufficed to raise him from obscurity, until he became,
Laërt viii 83). Fabricius also proposes to iden- by a remarkable accident, known to the emperor
tify him with the Leo, son of Neoclis, whose Theophilus. A pupil of Leo, whom he had in-
Stoixeia, Elementa sc. Geometrica are inentioned s:ructed in geometry, accepted the office of secretary
by Proclus (Comment. in Euclid. Lib. ii. c. 4. p. I to a military officer, during the war between the
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LEO.
LEO.
emperor and the caliph Al-Mamoun ; and, falling / which name the subject of the present article, who
into the hands of the Moslems, or treacherously appears to have practised astrology (Theoph. Contin.
deserting to them, at the fall of Amorium (A. D. iv. 28, v. 14), is probably meant (Fabricius, Bibl.
839), became known to the caliph, who was a Graec. vol. iv. p. 148, Graec. De Marci Billioth. p.
liberal patron of science. The young man, though 153; Catalog. Codd. MStorum Bibl. Regiue, Paris,
he excited the admiration of the caliph and his fol. 1740, vol. ii. pp. 499, 500): but the Métobus
court, by his geometrical attainments, professed apoyvwOTIK, Methodus Prognostica or instructions
himself to be not a master, but only a learner," and for divining by the Gospel or the Psalter, by Leo
80 highly extolled the knowledge of Leo, that he Sapiens, in the Medicean library at Florence (Ban-
was forth with despatched to Constantinople, with dini, Catalog. Codd. Laur. Medic. vol iii. p. 339), is
a letter to him, inviting him to leave that city and perhaps by another Leo.
Combéfis was disposed to
resort to Bagdad. Fearful of being suspected of a cnim for Leo of Thessalonica the authorship of the
treasonable correspondence with the enemy, Leo celebrated Xpnouol, Oracula, which are commonly
showed the letter to the logothete Theoctistus, by ascribed to the emperor Leo VI. Sapiens, or the wise,
whom the matter was reported to the emperor. and have been repeatedly published. But Leo of
Leo was thus made known to Theophilus. ' The Thessalonica is generally designated in the Byzan-
emperor first appointed him public teacher or pro- tine writers the philosopher (60opos), not the
fessor, assigning hin the church of the Forty wise(cópos), and if the published Oracula are a part
Martyrs as a school, and soon after ordered the of the series mentioned by Zonaras (xv. 21), they
patriarch Joanncs, who appears hitherto to have must be older than either the emperor or Leo of
neglected his learned kinsman, to ordain him arch- Thessalonica. (Fabric. Bild. Gracc. vol. iv. pp. 148,
bishop of Thessalonica (Theoph. Continuat iv. 27 ; 158, vol. vii. p. 697, vol. xi. p. 665 ; Allatius, De
comp. Symeon Magister, De Theophilo. c. 18—20; Psellis, c. 3—6 ; Labbe, De Byzant. Histor. Scrip-
Georg. Monach. De Theophilo. c. 22, 23 ; Cedrenus, torib. MpotpeTTiKÓv, pars secunda, p. 45. ) (J. C. M. ]
Compendium, 1. c. ; Zonar. xvi. 4). After three years, LEO, Latin ecclesiastics. ]. The first of that
when Theophilus died (a. D. 342), and the govern- name who occupied the papal throne, is usually
ment came into the hands of his widow Theodora, as styled the GREAT. . He was a native of Rome,
the guardian of her son Michael, the iconoclastic and must have been born towards the close of the
party was overthrown, and Leo and Joannes were fourth century, although the precise year is
deposed from their sees : but Leo, whose worth unknown. Nothing has been recorded con-
appears to have secured respect, escaped the suffer- cerning his parents, except that his father was
ings which fell to his kinsman's lot (Theoph. Cont. called Quintianus, nor with regard to his early
iv. 9, 26; Sym. Mag. De Theoph. c. 20, De Mis training ; but when we remark the erudition and
chacle, c. 1); and when the Caesar Bardas, anxious polished accuracy displayed in his writings, and
for the revival of learning, established the Mathema- the early age at which he rose to offices of high
tical school at the palace of Magnaura, in Constan- trust, it becomes manifest that his great natural
tinople, Leo was placed at its head, with one, if not talents must have been cultivated with uncommon
more of his former pupils for his fellow-teachers. assiduity and skill. While yet an acolyte he was
(Theoph. Contin. iv. 26 ; Cedrenus and Zo- despatched, in A. D. 418, to Carthage, for the pur-
naras, lh cc. ) Leo was faithful to the interests of pose of conveying to Aurelius and the other African
Bardas, whom he warned of the insidious designs bishops the sentiments of Zosimus concerning the
of Basilius the Macedonian, afterwards emperor Pelagian doctrines of Coelestius. (COELESTIUS. )
(Sym. Mag. De Michaele et Theodora, c. 40; Georg. Under Coelestinus (CORLESTINUS] he discharged
Monach. De Mich. et Theodoru, c. 25, 26). An the duties of a deacon ; and the reputation even
anecdote recorded both by Symeon (De Basilio then (431) enjoyed by him is clearly indicated by
Maced. c. 5) and George (De Basil. Maced. c. 4), the terms of the epistle prefixed to the seven books,
shews that Leo was living in A. D. 869: how much De Incarnatione Christi, of Cassianus, who at his
later is not known.
request had undertaken this work against the
Symeon (De Mich. et Theodora, c. 46) has de- Nestorian heresy. Having obtained the full con-
scribed a remarkable method of telegraphic com- fidence of Sixtus III. , to whom he rendered much
munication, invented by Leo, and practised in the good service, he attracted the notice of Valentinian
reigns of Theophilus and his son Michael. Fires | III. , and by the orders of the emperor undertook a
kindled at certain hours of the day conveyed intel- mission to Gaul, in order to soothe the formidable
ligence of hostile incursions, battles, conflagrations, dissensions of Aëtius and Albinus. [AETIUS. ]
and the other incidents of war, from the confines of While Leo was engaged in this delicate negotiation,
Syria to Constantinople ; the hour of kindling in which was conducted with singular prudence and
dicating the nature of the incident, according to an perfect success, the chief pontiff died, and by the
arranged plan, marked on the dial plate of a clock unanimous voice of the clergy and laity the absent
kept in the castle of Lulus, near Tarsus, and of a deacon was chosen to fill the vacant seat, and on
corresponding one in the palace at Constantinople. his return was solemnly installed, A. D. 440.
Leo Allatius, in his Excerpta Varia Graecor, From the earliest ages until this epoch no man
Sophistarum, has given (p. 398) Aéovtos Toll PIAO- who combined lofty ambition with commanding
oópov Kapkivo, Versus Carcini Leonis Philosophi, intellect and political dexterity had presided over
i. e. verses which may be read either backward or the Roman see: and although its influence had
forward. They are probably the same which are gradually increased, and many popes had sought to
in some MSS. or catalogues ascribed to Leo Gram- extend and confirm that influence, yet they had
maticus (see above, No. 15], but may be more pro- merely availed themselves of accidental circum-
bably ascribed to our Leo, among whose early stances to augment their own personal authority,
studies poetry is mentioned. Several astrological without acting upon any distinci and well devised
collectanea extant in MS. in different European scheme. But Leo, while he sedulously watched
libraries, contain portions by Leo Philosophus, by over the purity of his own peculiar Hock, concen-
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LEO.
747
LEO.
trated all the powers of his energetic mind upon a higher court, was eventually induced, either by
one great design, which he seems to have formed policy or conviction, to reject the application, and
at a very early period, which he kept stedfastly in drew up an elaborate epistic to the patriarch Fla-
view during a long and eventful life, and which he vianus, in which the Catholic doctrine of the
followed out with consummate boldness, persever- Incarnation was authoritatively expounded and
ance, and talent. This was nothing less than to defined. Meanwhile, a general council was sum-
establish the “ Apostolic Chair" in acknowledged moned to be held on the 1st of August, 449, at
spiritual supremacy over every branch of the Ca- Ephesus, and thither the ambassadors of Leo re-
tholic church, and to appropriate to its occupant paired, for the purpose of reading publicly the
exclusively the title of Papa, or father of the whole above letter. But a great majority of the con-
Christian world. Nor yere the evil days amid gregated fathers acting under control of the pre-
which his lot was cast unfavourable, as might at sident, Dioscuros of Alexandria, refused to listen
first sight be imagined, to such a project. The to the document, passed tumultuously a series of
church, it is true, was every where distracted and resolutions favourable to Eutyches, excommunicated
torn by the strife of parties, and by innumerable the most zealous of his opponents, and not only
heresies, while the character of its ministers had treated the Roman envoys with indignity, but
grievously degenerated. The empire in the West even offered violence to their persons. Hence this
was pressed on every side by hordes of barbarians, assembly, whose acts were all subsequently an-
who were threatening to pour down upon Italy nulled, is known in ecclesiastical history as the
itself. But in this season of confusion the contend-Synodus Latrocinalis. The vehement complaints
ing factions among the orthodox clergy, terrified by addressed to Theodosius by the orthodox leaders
the rapid progress of Arianism, were well disposed proved fruitless, and the triumph of their opponents
to refer their own minor disputes to arbitration, was for a time complete, when the sudden death of
and to acquiesce in the decision of one pre-eminent the emperor in 450 again awakened the hopes and
in learning and dignity. Leo, who well knew, called forth the exertions of Leo. In consequence
from the example of his predecessor Innocentius, of the pressing representations of his envoys, Ana-
that the transition is easy from instruction to com- tolius, the successor of Flavianus, together with all
inand, in the numerous and elaborate replies which the clergy of Constantinople, were induced to sub-
he addressed to inquiries proceeding from various scribe the Confession of Faith. contained in the
quarters, while he conveyed the information sought, Epistle to Flavianus, and to transmit it for sig-
or resolved the doubts proposed, studiously adopted nature to all the dioceses of the East. Encouraged
a tone of absolute infallibility, and assumed the by this success, Leo solicited the new monarch
right of enforcing obedience to his dictates as an Marcianus to summon a grand council, for the final
unquestionable prerogative of his office. On the adjustment of the questions concerning the nature
other hand, the barbarian chiefs whose power was of Christ, which still proved a source of discord,
not yet consolidated were eager to propitiate one and strained every nerve to have it held in Italy,
who possessed such weight with the priesthood, where his own adherents would necessarily have
and through them could either calm into submission preponderated. In this, however, he failed. Nicaea
or excite to rebellion an ignorant and fanatic mul- was the place first fixed upon, but it eventually met
titude. Hence these also proved powerful, although at Chalcedon in October, 45). Although the Roman
unconscious, instruments in forwarding the great legates, whose language was of the most imperious
enterprise. But even after the minds of men were description, did not fail broadly to assert the pre-
in some degree prepared and disposed to yield to tensions put forth by the representative of St.
such domination, it was scarcely to be expected Peter, at first all went snioothly. The Epistle to
that it could be firmly fixed without exciting jea- Flavianus was admitted as a rule of faith for the
lousy and resistance. Accordingly, & strong op guidance of the universal church, and no protest
position was speedily organised both in the West was entered against the spirit of arrogant assump-
and in the East, which soon assumed the attitude tion in which it was conceived. But when the
of open defiance. In the West the contest was whole of the special business was concluded, at the
brought to an issue by the controversy with very last sitting, a formal resolution was proposed
Hilarius of Arles concerning the deposition of Che- and passed, to the effect that while the Roman see
lidonius. (HILARIUS Arelatensis. ) The total de- was, in virtue of its antiquity, entitled to take
feat and severe punishment of the Gaulish bishop formal precedence of every other, the see of Con-
filled his supporters with terror, and the edict of stantinople was to stand next in rank, was to be
Valentinian issued upon this occasion served as a regarded as independent of every other, and to
sort of charter, in virtue of which the Roman exercise full jurisdiction over the churches of
bishops exercised for centuries undisputed juris- Asia, Thrace, and Pontus. The resistance of Leo
diction over France, Spain, Germany, and Britain. was all in vain. The obnoxious canons were fully
In the East the struggle was much more com-confirmed, and thus one half of the sovereignty at
plicated, the result much less satisfactory. The which he aimed was for ever lost, at the very mo-
Archimandrite Eutyches [EUTYCH ES), in his ve- ment when victory seemed no longer doubtful.
hement denunciation of Nestorius, having been be- Two other events in the active life of this re-
trayed into errors, very different indeed, but equally markable man must not be passed over in silence.
dangerous, was anathematised, deposed, and ex- In 452, when Attila was advancing in full career
communicated, in A. D. 448, by the synod of Con- upon Rome, Leo was selected as the chief of an
stantinople. Against this sentence he sought embassy, sent forth in the forlorn hope of pro-
redress, by soliciting the interference of the bishops pitiating the fierce conqueror. What the arguments
of Alexandria and Rome. By the former his cause employed by the eloquent suppliant may have
was eagerly espoused; the latter, although at first been history has failed to record. The result is
disposed to listen favourably to a complaint which well known. The Hun not only spared the me
be chose to regard as an appeal from an inferior to tropolis, but evacuated Italy, and returned with his
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LEO.
LEO.
|
army to the Danube. Again in 455, when the mence with that which issued from the press of
city lay at the mercy of the Vandals, Genseric was Sweynheym and Pannartz (Rom. fol. 1470), under
persuaded by the entreaties of Leo to forego his the inspection of Andrew, bishop of Aleria, com-
purpose of general conflagration and massacre, and prising ninety-two Sermones and five Epistolue, it is
to be content with pillage-a concession which, unnecessary to give any detailed account, since two
when we consider the circumstances of the case are decidedly superior to all others.
and the temper of the chief, indicates the influence The first is that published at Paris in 1675, in
of the pontiff not less forcibly than his success two large quarto tomes, by Pasquier Quesnel, who
with Attila.
by the aid of a large number of MSS. , preserved
His last anxiety arose from the tumults excited chiefly in the libraries of France, was enabled to
in the church at Alexandria about 457 by the dis introduce such essential improvements into the
orderly proceedings of Timotheus Ielurus. Ilaving text, and by his erudite industry illustrated so
united with the emperor of the East and with the clearly the obscurities in which many of the do-
patriarch of Constantinople in restoring order and cuments were involved, that the works of Leo now
discipline, and having written a congratulatory for the first time assumed an unmutilated, intelli-
letter to the clerky of Alexandria upon the happy gible, and satisfactory aspect. But the admiration
termination of their troubles, he soon after died, excited by the skill with which the arduous task
on the 10th of November, 461.
had been executed soon received a check. Upon
The works of Leo consist of discourses delivered attentive perus:ll, the notes and dissertations were
on the great festivals of the church or other so- found to contain such free remarks upon many of
lemn occasions, and of letters.
the opinions and usages of the primitive church,
I. Sermones. Of these we possess ninety-six. and, above all, to manifest such unequivocal hos-
There are five De Natuli ipsius, preached on an- tility to the despotism of the Roman see, that the
niversaries of his ordination, six De Collectis, nine volumes fell under the ban of the Inquisition within
De Jejunio Decimi Níensis, ten De Nativitate Do- a year after their publication, and were included in
mini, eight In Epiphania Domini, twelve De Quad- the “Index Librorum Prohibitorum ” of 1682.
rrugesima, one De Transfiguratione Domini, nineteen Notwithstanding these denunciations, the book en-
De Passione Domini, two De Resurrectione Domini, joyed great popularity, and was reprinted, without
two De Ascensione Domini, three De Pentecoste, four | any suppression or modification of the obnoxious
De Jejunio Pentecostes, one In Natali Apostolorum passages, at Lyons in 1700. Hence the heads of
Petri et Pauli, one In Natali S. Petri Apostoli, one the Romish church became anxious to supply an
In Octavis Apostolorum Petri et Pauli, one In Na- antidote to the poison so extensively circulated.
tali S. Laurentii Nartyris, nine De Jejunio Septimi | This undertaking was first attempted by Peter
Mensis, one De Gradibus Ascensionis ad Beatitudi- Cacciari, a Carmelite monk of the Propaganda,
nem, one Tractatus contra Hueresim Eutychis. whose labours (S. Leonis Magni Opera omnia,
11. Epistolae. These, extending to the number Rom. 1753—1755, 2 vols. fol. ; Exercitationes in
of 173, are addressed to the reigning emperors and Universa S. Leonis Magni Opera, Rom. fol. 1751),
their consorts, to synods, to religious communities, might have attracted attention and praise had they
to bishops and other dignitaries, and to sundry in- not been, at the very moment when they were
fluential personages connected with the ecclesiastical brought to a close, entirely thrown into the shade
history of the times. They afford an immense mass by those of the brothers Peter and Jerome Balle-
of most valuable information on the prevailing rini, presbyters of Verona, whose edition appeared
heresies, controversies, and doubts, with regard to at Verona in three volumes folio in the course of
matters of doctrine, discipline, and church govern- the years 1755–1757, and is entitled to take the
first place both in purity of the text, corrected from
Besides the ninety-six Sermones and 173 Epis- / a great number of MSS. , chiefly Roman, not before
tolae mentioned above, a considerable number of collated, in the arrangement of the different parts,
tracts have from time to time been ascribed to the and in the notes and disquisitions. A full de-
same author ; but their authenticity is either so scription of these volumes, as well as of those of
doubtful, or their spuriousness so evident, that Quesnel and Cacciari, is to be found in Schöne
they are now universally set aside. A list of these, mann, who has bestowed more than usual care
and an investigation of their origin, will be found upon this section.
in the edition of the brothers Ballerini, more par- (Maimbourg, Histoire du Pontificat de Léon,
ticularly described below.
Paris, 4to. 1687 ; the dissertations of Quesnel and
In consequence of the reputation deservedly en- the Ballerini ; Schönemann, Bibl. Patrum Lat. vol.
joved by Leo, his writings have always been ii. $ 42 ; Arendt, Leo der Grosse, Mainz. 8vo.
eagerly studied. But, although a vast number of 1835; Bähr, Gesch. der Röm. Literat. Suppl. Band.
MSS. are still in existence, none of these exhibit 11e Abtheil. § 159—162. )
his works in a complete form, and no attempt 2.
