Historian Kate Cooper explores the lives of women in the Roman empire through the lens of St Augustine of Hippo's Confessions. She discusses four women - Augustine's mother, his lover, his fiancée, and the Roman empress Justina - shedding light on their experiences. Topics include Augustine's family stories, his emphasis on humility, Roman family planning for marriages, and challenging societal norms.
Augustine’s Confessions provides unique insights into the lives of women in the late Roman empire.
Monica's stories highlight the themes of humility, navigating difficult circumstances, and the value of marginalized perspectives.
Deep dives
The Influence of St. Augustine and His Focus on Family Dynamics
St. Augustine is an influential figure in Latin Christian tradition, known for his work as a Christian thinker and bishop. His experiences in pastoral work and his close relationship with his mother sparked his interest in family dynamics. Augustine viewed his family stories and experiences as a valuable source for understanding human behavior. Through his confessions, he explores the lives of women in the late Roman Empire, including his mother, lover, fiancée, and the Roman Empress Justina.
Monica's Story of Strategic Obedience and Wisdom of Humility
One of the significant stories passed on by Augustine's mother, Monica, is about her experience growing up in a strict household in northern Algeria. Monica's nurse instilled an attitude of strictness regarding drinking, even water, during the hot summer days. However, Monica's responsibility was to bring wine to her parents' dinner table, and an enslaved girl called Illa accompanied her. Illa confronts Monica about her drinking, humiliating her. Monica reflected on this incident as a message from God, believing that even the lowest in rank can be a vessel for divine wisdom. This notion of humility and the value of considering the perspectives of marginalized individuals shaped Augustine's philosophy as a Christian thinker.
Monica's Maneuvering in a Challenging Marriage
Another story told by Monica involves her early marriage, where her husband exhibited volatile behavior and engaged in extramarital affairs. Monica shares how she strategically maintained trust and security within her marriage by demonstrating complete obedience to her difficult mother-in-law, even when false lies were spread about her. Though the story seems to present a toleration of mistreatment, it highlights Monica's ability to navigate a challenging situation and protect herself. Augustine suggests that this narrative influenced his views on the dynamics of marriage and the wisdom of maneuvering in difficult circumstances.
The Context of Justina and the Political Drama
Justina, the Roman Empress, plays a minor role in Augustine's story. However, her inclusion sheds light on the political climate of the time. Justina, characterized by her military background and rise to power, provides insight into the turbulent state of the Roman Empire, which was facing external threats and internal rivalries. Justina's story also helps readers understand the cultural context that surrounded the other women in Augustine's life, such as Monica and Una. Moreover, her presence adds complexity to Augustine's relationship with Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan, and showcases the prevalent misogyny in the society of that era.
St Augustine of Hippo is one of the most influential Christian thinkers of the past 2,000 years – and his work also offers fresh insights into the lives of women in the late Roman empire. That’s the contention of the historian Kate Cooper, who has drawn on his Confessions to tell the stories of Augustine’s mother, his lover, his fiancée and the Roman empress Justina, in her Cundill History Prize-shortlisted book Queens of a Fallen World. She speaks to Rob Attar about this unique window into the 4th century.
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