Bishop
Appointed Bishop of Milan
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Ambrose Biography and Timeline
Follow Ambrose through 28 dated historical records for Roman Empire.
Ambrose, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
28Distinct records
1 of 1Page
374–397Years on this page
374
Ambrose Mediates Election Dispute
Ambrose, then a provincial governor, tried to restore order among factions disputing the choice of bishop.
Ambrose Elected Bishop Of Milan
The congregation acclaimed Ambrose as bishop in 374 despite his not yet being baptised.
Ambrose Receives Baptism
Ambrose was baptised before his consecration because he had been a catechumen when elected.
Ambrose Consecrated As Bishop
After rapid preparation Ambrose became bishop of Milan in December 374.
375
Ambrose Distributes Personal Wealth
The new bishop disposed of substantial personal resources as he committed himself to church service.
Ambrose Studies Christian Doctrine
Ambrose undertook intensive scriptural and theological study after unexpectedly entering the episcopate.
380
Ambrose Defends Nicene Faith
Ambrose became a leading defender of Nicene Christianity against Arian theological positions.
381
Council of Aquileia
Has Arian bishops removed
Ambrose Opposes Arian Bishops
At the Council of Aquileia in 381, Ambrose helped secure condemnation of bishops accused of Arian teachings.
382
Altar of Victory
Convinces Gratian to remove the Altar of Victory from the Senate
Ambrose Opposes Victory Altar
Ambrose resisted the restoration of the Altar of Victory in Rome's Senate house.
384
Ambrose Undertakes Imperial Embassy
Bishop Ambrose of Milan visited Magnus Maximus to negotiate on behalf of the young emperor Valentinian II.
Ambrose Challenges Symmachus Petition
Ambrose answered the pagan senator Symmachus's appeal for renewed public support of traditional Roman cults.
Ambrose Negotiates With Maximus
Ambrose undertook diplomatic missions to Magnus Maximus during the political confrontation in the western empire.
385
Ambrose Criticises Religious Prosecution
Ambrose resisted the involvement of secular coercion in episcopal disputes associated with the trial of Priscillian under Maximus.
386
Ambrose Confronts Imperial Court
Ambrose resisted requests from the court of Valentinian II to transfer Milanese church buildings to Homoian Christians.
Congregation Guards Milan Basilica
During the basilica dispute, supporters of Ambrose maintained vigils in the contested churches.
Ambrose Promotes Congregational Hymns
Ambrose is associated with the development of Latin hymn singing by Milanese congregations.
Ambrose Discovers Martyrs Relics
Ambrose reported the discovery of the remains of martyrs Gervasius and Protasius in Milan in 386.
Relics Transferred To Basilica
The remains identified as Gervasius and Protasius were placed in a Milanese church with public ceremony.
387
Ambrose Baptises Augustine
Ambrose baptised Augustine at Milan in 387 after Augustine's conversion to Christianity.
390
Massacre
Theodosius massacres 7,000 & must beg forgiveness from the Ambrose, Bishop of Milan
Ambrose Confronts Theodosius
Ambrose demanded public repentance after the massacre at Thessalonica attributed to imperial forces in 390.
Theodosius Performs Public Penance
Tradition records Theodosius accepting ecclesiastical penance following Ambrose's rebuke over Thessalonica.
Ambrose Writes On Duties
Ambrose composed On the Duties of Ministers, adapting moral themes to instruction for Christian clergy.
Ambrose Preaches Biblical Exegesis
Ambrose's sermons and commentaries shaped Latin Christian interpretation of the Scriptures.
397
Ambrose Dies In Milan
Ambrose died in April 397 and left a lasting legacy in western theology and the Milanese church.
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.