Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 1.djvu/700

Rh 662 A M B A M B According to tradition, it was originally a Thesprotian town, founded by Ambrax, son of Thcsprotus, or by Ambracia, daughter of Augeas. About 635 B.C. it was colonised by Corinthians, and so became a Greek city. Its power increased rapidly until the time of the Pelopon- nesian war, when it commanded the whole of Amphilochia, including the town of Argos, from which the original inhabitants were expelled. In 432 B.C. the expelled citizens, with the assistance of the Athenians under Phormion, retook Argos. In 430 the Ambracians made an unsuccessful attempt to recover the town, and a second attack in 426 resulted in a still more disastrous failure. The power of Ambracia now declined as rapidly as it had grown. In 338-7 it was compelled to submit to Philip of Macedonia, and it remained subject to that kingdom until it was ceded by Alexander V. to Pyrrhus of Epirus about 295. The latter made it his capital, and enriched it with numerous works of art. It subsequently came under the power of the ^Etolian League (239), and sustained a memorable siege in the war between the latter and Rome (189). In the end the city opened its gates to the enemy, who removed many of its most valuable works of art to Rome. In 31 B.C. the inhabitants of Ambracia were removed by Augustus to Nicopolis, the town he had founded in commemoration of the victory of Actium. The site of Ambracia is occupied by the modern Arta, near which remains of the ancient fortifications may be seen. AMBROSE OF ALEXAXDKIA lived in the beginning of the third century. Jerome and Eusebius differ in the account they give of him, the one calling him a Marcionite, the other a Valentinian ; but they agree in alleging that he was converted to the orthodox faith by the preaching of Origeu. Origen dedicated many of his works, among others his book On Martyrdom, to Ambrose, at whose desire and expense they were published, and the two lived on terms of the most intimate friendship. According to some, Ambrose died a martyr in the persecution under Maximin, about the year 236 ; but the dedication of Origen s Eight Books against Celsus proves that he lived to the year 250, or near that period. Origen speaks of him as a man of sincere piety, and much devoted to the study of the Scriptures. AMBROSE, SAINT, Bishop of Milan, was one of the most eminent fathers of the church in the fourth century. He. was a citizen of Rome, born in Gaul, according to some historians, in the year 334, but according to others in 340. At the period of his birth his father was prae torian prefect of Gallia Narbonensis ; and upon his death the widow repaired to Rome with her family. Ambrose received a religious education, and was reared in habits of virtue by his mother, an accomplished woman, and eminent for her piety. The names of his instructors in the rudi ments of Greek and Roman literature have not been trans mitted to posterity ; but in these branches he made early proficiency, and having directed his attention to the law, he employed his eloquence with such reputation in the prae torian court of Anicius Probus, that he was soon deemed worthy of a place in the council. After he had continued in this station for some time, Probus appointed him con sular prefect of Liguria and ./Emilia, comprehending the territories of Milan, Liguria, Turin, Genoa, and Bologna. Milan was chosen as the place of his residence ;. and, by the prudent and gentle use of his power, he conducted the affairs of the province with general approbation and grow ing popularity. The death of Auxentius, bishop of Milan, in the year 374, made a sudden change in the fortune and literary pursuits of Ambrose. At that period the tide of religious conten tion ran high between the orthodox and the Arians, and a violent contest arose concerning the choice of a successor to Auxentius. When the people were assembled in the church to elect the new bishop, Ambrose, in the character of governor of the place, presented himself to the assembly, and in a grave, eloquent, and pathetic address, admonished the multitude to lay aside their contentions, and proceed to the election in the spirit of religious meekness. It is reported that when Ambrose had finished his address, a child cried out, &quot;Ambrose is bishop,&quot; and that the agitated multitude, regarding this as a miraculous inti mation, unanimously elected Ambrose bishop of Milan. Some suppose that this was entirely a device of Ambrose or his friends ; others ascribe it to mere accident. Am brose professed strong reluctance, and even fled, or pre tended to fly, from the city in order to avoid the intended honour. The place of his concealment, however, was soon discovered ; the emperor s confirmation of his election was made known to him ; and after being baptized, he was ordained bishop of Milan, about the end of the year 374. Whatever we may think of the singular conduct of Ambrose in accepting an office for which he was certainly unqualified in respect of previous studies, habits, and employments, it must be admitted that he immediately betook himself to the necessary studies, and acquitted himself in his new elevation with ability, boldness, and integrity. Having apportioned his money among the poor, and settled his lands upon the church, with the exception of making his sister tenant during life, and having committed the care of his family to his brother, he entered upon a regular course of theological study, under the care of Simplician, a pres byter of Rome, and devoted himself to the labours of the church. The irruption of the Goths and the northern barbarians, who rushed down upon the Roman empire at this time, spreading terror and desolation all around, compelled Ambrose, along with several others, to retire to Illyricum , but his exile was of short duration, for the northern in vaders were quickly defeated by the forces of the emperor, and driven back with considerable loss into their own territories. The eloquence of Ambrose soon found ample scope in the dispute between the Arians and the orthodox. About this era the doctrine of Anus concerning the person of Christ had been extensively received, and had many power ful defenders both among the clergy and the common people. Ambrose espoused the cause of the Catholics. Gratian, the son of the elder Valentinian, took the same side ; but the younger Valentinian, who had now become his colleague in the empire, adopted the opinions of the Arians; and all the arguments and eloquence of Ambrose were in sufficient to reclaim the young prince to the orthodox faith. Theodosius, the emperor of the East, also professed the orthodox belief ; but there were many adherents of Arius scattered throughout his dominions. In this distracted state of religious opinion, two leaders of the Arians, Pal- ladius and Secundianus, confident of numbers, prevailed upon Gratian to call a general council from all parts of that empire. This request appeared so equitable that he complied without hesitation ; but Ambrose, foreseeing the consequence, prevailed upon the emperor to have the matter determined by a council of the Western bishops. A synod, composed of thirty-two bishops, was accordingly held at Aquileia in the year 381. Ambrose was elected president; and Palladius being called upon to defend his opinions, declined, insisting that the meeting was a partial one, and that the whole bishops of the empire not being present, the sense of the Christian church concerning the question in dispute could not be obtained. A vote was then taken, when Palladius and his associate Secundianus were do- posed from the episcopal office. Ambrose vas equally zealous in combating the heathen