Prosper
A celebrated ecclesiastical writer. He was a native of Aquitania, and flourished during the
first half of the fifth century A.D. He distinguished himself by his numerous writings in
defence of the doctrines of Augustine against the attacks of the Semipelagians. Many of his
theological works are extant; and there are also two chronicles bearing his name:
1.
Chronicon Consulare, extending from A.D. 379, the date at which the
chronicle of St. Jerome ends, down to 455, the events being arranged according to the years
of the Roman consuls. We find short notices with regard to the Roman emperors, the Roman
bishops, and political occurrences in general; but the troubles of the Church are especially
dwelt upon, and, above all, the Pelagian heresy.
2.
Chronicon Imperiale, comprehended within the same limits as the preceding
(379-455), but the computations proceed according to the years of the Roman emperors, and not
according to the consuls. While it agrees with the
Chronicon Consulare in its
general plan, it differs from it in many particulars, especially in the very brief allusions
to the Pelagian controversy, and in the slight, almost disrespectful notices of Augustine.
The second of these chronicles was probably not written by Prosper of Aquitania, and is
assigned by most critics to Prosper Tiro , who, it is imagined, flourished in the sixth
century. There are likewise several poems, which have come down to us under the name of
Prosper. The best edition of Prosper's works is that of Lebrun and Maugeant
(Paris,
1711).
