1693 – Life of the Emperor Theodosius the Great by Esprit Flechier | First English Edition

Esprit Flechier was a 17th-century French bishop who is best known for his historical biography of Theodosius I the Great. Theodosius was a Roman Emperor in the late 4th-century who led important victories in the Gothic Wars. Flechier’s account of the Roman emperor is notable for its elegant style and summary of the division of the Eastern and Western Roman Empires and the European transition into the Middle Ages.

This 1693 first English edition was translated by Francis Manning, bound in full leather.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Life of the Emperour Theodosius the Great
• Author(s): Esprit Fléchier
• Contributor(s): Francis Manning (Translator
• Publisher: London, Printed by F.L. for F. Saunders
• Edition: First English Edition, 1693
• Binding: Full leather
• Format: (12mo), single volume
• Size:  7.5 in x 4.75 in (19 cm x 12 cm)
• Collation: [12], 358, [2] pages
• Contents Include:
  • Roman Imperial politics and military campaigns
  • Narrative on the Gothic Wars
  • Discussion on the East-West Empire division

Condition:

Good. Full leather binding with rubbing along edges and corners. Hinges intact and firm. Text block remains stable throughout. Internally complete with expected wear consistent with age.

Why Collect This?

• First English printing of Fléchier’s Roman biography of Theodosius
• Interest for collectors of classical biography and imperial narratives

Item Number: # 29794