History of Europe

A man wrapped in a mystery! Etymology of patronage! About Gaius Maecenas, who was also the emperor's left arm

The "mecenat movement" is a term often heard in corporate recruitment exams and civil service exams, and its etymology is Gaius Maecenas, the protagonist of this time.

If you read "Maecenas" in French, it becomes a patronage.

By the way, the Mesena movement is a corporate investment to protect cultural and artistic activities, because Maecenas protected first-class poets such as Vergilius and Horace.

The emperor's left arm

It can be said that Agrippa, who was active in military and political aspects, is the emperor's right arm, and Maecenas, who was active in the diplomatic part, is the emperor's left arm.

Maecenas was born in Equites, like Agrippa and Augustus, but its origin seems to be sought after by the Etruscans, and in a sense it may be said to be older than the Romans.

His birth is said to be 70 BC, which means he is about seven years older than Octavian and Agrippa.

It is not well known when Augustus and Maecenas had a close relationship, and it is presumed that they met around the Battle of Philippi.

Maecenas could be called a private secretary of Augustus, abandoning the so-called honorary course (Cursus Honorm) and serving Augustus.

It is the highest honor for the Romans to hold important positions such as Praetor and Consul, and winning them gives the Senate a seat. Abandoning it is an unthinkable story at the time.

That's why Maecenas's activity is still unknown in modern times, and because his name is not mentioned in Roman official documents, it would be appropriate to say that he was active like Kuroko.

His specific achievements include signing the Tarentum Agreement between Octavianus, Antonius and Lepidus to establish the Second Triumvirate, and representing him in Rome while Octavianus was fighting Pompey's bereaved children and Antonius. It is said that he was serving.

It is said that Octavian was able to make battles in various places during this period because of the help of Maecenas, and many researchers claim that he was a shadow meritorious person.

It is a complete mystery about Maecenas' success after Actium, and it is said that he temporarily became discordant with Oktavianus. Or he became the shadow brain of Augustus, who became the emperor in a perfect shadow.

The truth is unknown, but Augustus seems to have often stayed at Maecenas' house, where he was said to have talked about policies, etc., and had Vergilius write the epic "Aeneid", which describes the legitimacy of Rome. It is said that it was Maecenas.

Maecenas died quietly in 8 BC. His will seems to state that he would give Augustus all his fortune.

Cultural guardian

As mentioned at the beginning, Maecenas is known primarily for protecting poets.

Philosophy developed in Greece, and poetry developed in Rome.

Dante, who was active in the Renaissance, has great respect for the poet Vergilius who was active during this period, and made Vergilius appear in his own "Divine Comedy".

It is also known that Ovid and Horace, who were said to be the three great poets of Rome, were also protected by Maecenas, and they influenced not only Roman culture but also the aristocrats who later imitated Maecenas and protected the arts. It can be said that he was a person who also influenced the Renaissance culture because he gave it.

There would have been no renaissance without Maecenas, as there would have been no development of art without the patronage.

Although rarely known in Roman official records, it is clear that he was a well-known figure in world history, given the influence Maecenas had on posterity.