FLAVIANUS, VIRIUS NICOMACHUS. - A pagan writer of the 4th century, born in 334 from a wealthy family of Apulian origin. A statesman, man of letters, historian, and connoisseur of religious sciences, especially divination. He is chiefly famous for having been the principal champion of paganism in the supreme struggle which it waged for its existence towards the end of the 4th century.
He translated into Latin the Life of Apollonius of Tyana by Philostratus. Set aside by Gratian for having, as vicar of Africa in 376, favoured the Donatists, he regained honour thanks to his literary and historical reputation under Theodosius, by whom he was appointed "Praefectus praetorio Italiae Illyrici et Africae" in 383 and in 390-91 and designated consul for 393. Notwithstanding this, he followed the usurper Eugenius, from whom he obtained the restitution of property formerly belonging to temples. In 393-94 he restored pagan worship in Rome, celebrated solemn idolatrous rites, and induced many Christians to apostatize. Moving against Theodosius, he promised Eugenius victory and threatened the destruction of Christianity. He took part in the battle on the Alpidius (September 384), but, seeing victory slip away, he killed himself.