Via Augustina

From Thagaste to Hippo, by way of Carthage, Rome and Milan: each milestone marks a year of Augustine’s life, each square a year full of events. Distances are measured as the crow flies from Thagaste, in Roman miles (one mile ≈ 1.48 km). Every date links to its source.

  1. 354

    1. Augustine is born, son of Patricius and Monica.

      Thagaste (Souk Ahras, Algeria)

      Sources De beata vita I, 6 (jour : ides de novembre) · Confessions IX, 11, 28 (année)

  2. c. 366

    1. Studies letters in nearby Madauros.

      Madauros (M’Daourouch, Algeria) · 14 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Confessions II, 3, 5

  3. c. 371

    1. “Veni Karthaginem”: he comes to Carthage to study rhetoric.

      Carthage (Carthage, Tunisia) · 147 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Confessions III, 1, 1

    2. Death of his father Patricius, baptized shortly before.

      Thagaste (Souk Ahras, Algeria)

      Sources Confessions III, 4, 7 · Confessions IX, 9, 22

  4. c. 372

    1. Birth of his son Adeodatus.

      Carthage (Carthage, Tunisia) · 147 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Confessions IX, 6, 14

  5. 373

    1. At nineteen, Cicero’s Hortensius fires him with the love of wisdom.

      Carthage (Carthage, Tunisia) · 147 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Confessions III, 4, 7

    2. Nine years as a Manichaean “hearer”.

      Carthage (Carthage, Tunisia) · 147 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Confessions IV, 1, 1

  6. c. 375

    1. Teaches grammar in his home town; death of a dear friend.

      Thagaste (Souk Ahras, Algeria)

      Sources Confessions IV, 4, 7

  7. c. 376

    1. Opens a school of rhetoric in Carthage.

      Carthage (Carthage, Tunisia) · 147 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Confessions IV, 7, 12

  8. c. 380

    1. First book, now lost: On the Beautiful and the Fitting.

      Carthage (Carthage, Tunisia) · 147 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Confessions IV, 13, 20

  9. 383

    1. Faustus of Milevis, the long-awaited Manichaean bishop, disappoints him.

      Carthage (Carthage, Tunisia) · 147 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Confessions V, 3, 3 · Confessions V, 6, 10

    Crossing the Mediterranean, from Carthage to Rome

    1. Sails for Rome by night, without Monica’s knowledge.

      Rome (Rome, Italy) · by sea · 499 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Confessions V, 8, 15

  10. 384

    1. Official professor of rhetoric in Milan; he listens to Bishop Ambrose.

      Milan (Milan, Italy) · 696 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Confessions V, 13, 23

  11. c. 385

    1. Monica joins him in Milan.

      Milan (Milan, Italy) · 696 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Confessions VI, 1, 1

    2. His companion, mother of Adeodatus, is sent back to Africa.

      Milan (Milan, Italy) · 696 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Confessions VI, 15, 25

  12. 386

    1. Reads “the books of the Platonists”.

      Milan (Milan, Italy) · 696 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Confessions VII, 9, 13

    2. In a garden in Milan, “Tolle, lege”: he is converted.

      Milan (Milan, Italy) · 696 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Confessions VIII, 12, 29 · Confessions IX, 2, 2-4 (fin de l’été)

    3. Retreat at Verecundus’s villa with Monica, Adeodatus and friends.

      Cassiciacum (probably Cassago Brianza, Italy (disputed)) · 717 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Confessions IX, 3, 5 · Confessions IX, 4, 7

    4. For his thirty-second birthday, three days of dialogue: The Happy Life.

      Cassiciacum (probably Cassago Brianza, Italy (disputed)) · 717 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources De beata vita I, 6

  13. 387

    1. Easter night: Ambrose baptizes him with Adeodatus and Alypius.

      Milan (Milan, Italy) · 696 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Confessions IX, 6, 14 · Possidius, Vie d’Augustin, 1 (Ambroise, Pâques)

    2. At a window in Ostia, the vision shared with Monica.

      Ostia (Ostia Antica, Italy) · 484 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Confessions IX, 10, 23-26

    3. Death of Monica, aged fifty-six.

      Ostia (Ostia Antica, Italy) · 484 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Confessions IX, 11, 27-28

  14. Crossing the Mediterranean, from Ostia to Carthage

    388

    1. He sails back to Africa.

      Carthage (Carthage, Tunisia) · by sea · 147 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Possidius, Vie d’Augustin, 3

    2. A shared life of prayer and study with friends, on his own land.

      Thagaste (Souk Ahras, Algeria)

      Sources Possidius, Vie d’Augustin, 3

  15. c. 389

    1. Death of Adeodatus, aged about seventeen.

      Thagaste (Souk Ahras, Algeria)

      Sources Confessions IX, 6, 14

  16. 391

    1. Visiting Hippo, he is seized by the crowd and ordained priest.

      Hippo Regius (Annaba, Algeria) · 51 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Possidius, Vie d’Augustin, 4 · Sermon 355, 2

  17. 393

    1. Still a priest, he preaches to the African council: On Faith and the Creed.

      Hippo Regius (Annaba, Algeria) · 51 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Rétractations I, 17 · Bréviaire d’Hippone (date du concile)

  18. 395

    1. Bishop alongside Valerius, then sole bishop of Hippo for thirty-four years.

      Hippo Regius (Annaba, Algeria) · 51 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Possidius, Vie d’Augustin, 8

  19. 397

    1. Writes the Confessions.

      Hippo Regius (Annaba, Algeria) · 51 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Rétractations II, 6

  20. 410

    1. Context

      Alaric’s Goths take Rome.

      Rome (Rome, Italy) · 499 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Rétractations II, 43

  21. 411

    1. Conference of Carthage: Catholics and Donatists face to face, 1–8 June.

      Carthage (Carthage, Tunisia) · 147 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Actes de la conférence de Carthage (Gesta collationis Carthaginiensis)

    2. First writings against Pelagius: grace at the heart of his thought.

      Carthage (Carthage, Tunisia) · 147 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Rétractations II, 33

  22. 413

    1. Writes The City of God, in answer to the shock of 410.

      Hippo Regius (Annaba, Algeria) · 51 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Rétractations II, 43

  23. 418

    1. The Council of Carthage condemns Pelagian teaching.

      Carthage (Carthage, Tunisia) · 147 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Canons du concile de Carthage de 418

    2. In Caesarea of Mauretania, public debate with the Donatist bishop Emeritus.

      Caesarea in Mauretania (Cherchell, Algeria) · 352 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Actes du débat avec Emeritus (Gesta cum Emerito), 1 · Rétractations II, 51

  24. 426

    1. Before his people, he names the priest Heraclius as his successor.

      Hippo Regius (Annaba, Algeria) · 51 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Lettre 213, 1

    2. The Retractations: he rereads and corrects all his works.

      Hippo Regius (Annaba, Algeria) · 51 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Rétractations, prologue · Possidius, Vie d’Augustin, 28

  25. 429

    1. Context

      Genseric’s Vandals cross into Africa.

      Hippo Regius (Annaba, Algeria) · 51 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Possidius, Vie d’Augustin, 28

  26. 430

    1. The Vandals besiege Hippo; he stays with his people.

      Hippo Regius (Annaba, Algeria) · 51 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Possidius, Vie d’Augustin, 28

    2. Augustine dies, aged seventy-six.

      Hippo Regius (Annaba, Algeria) · 51 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Possidius, Vie d’Augustin, 29 (malade au 3ᵉ mois du siège) et 31 (âge) · Jour : tradition liturgique (fête du 28 août)

  27. c. 725

    1. Context

      King Liutprand brings his relics from Sardinia to Pavia.

      Pavia (Pavia, Italy) · 675 Roman miles from Thagaste

      Sources Bède, Chronique · Paul Diacre, Histoire des Lombards VI, 48