Entry (Details):

Originally called Strategius, he received from Constantine the nickname Musonianus Amm. XV 13.2 (see below); the name Strategius occurs only in Eus. V. Const/ III 62.1 and in Libanius passim, while Musonianus is used in the Codes (as his official name) and by Ammianus, Athanasius and Himerius. He is therefore not to be identified with Fl. Strategius praeses Thebaidos.

Through his linguistic ability (‘facundia sermonis utriusque clarus’), he helped Constantine in ecclesiastical affairs and won his favour Amm. XV 13.1-2 Constantinus enim cum limatius superstitionum quaereret sectas Manichaeorum et similium nec interpres inveniretur idoneus, hunc sibi commendatum ut sufficientem elegit: quem officio functum perite Musonianum voluit appellari, ante Strategiurn dictitatum.

V.P.iRole name: V.P., COMESiRole name: COMES (c. a. 326, under Constantine I): in Antioch soon after 325 Eus. V. Const. III 59.3, 62.1 (a letter of Constantine mentions ‘Ἀκακίου καὶ Στρατηγίου τῶν διασημοτάτων κομήτων’).

COMES (under Constantius II) c. a. 343: in c. 343 he and Hesychius 1 represented Constantius at the Council of Sardica Athan. Apol. c. Ar. 36 κόμητας, cf. Hist. Ar. 15 Μουσωνιανὸν κόμητα.

PROCONSVL of ConstantinopleiRole name: PROCONSVL of Constantinople, before 353 (for date see below) Him. Or. LXII 6 ἄνδρα αὐτων (sc. τῶν Μουσῶν) ἐπώνυμον καὶ ταῖς ἐκείνων τελεταῖς ἐνσκιρτήσαντα ἡγεῖσθαι τῆς πόλεως συμβαίνει (the city is Constantinople), i.e. a proconsul of Constantinople whose name recalls the Muses. This could be Musonianus, cf. Lib. Ep. 580, but might be Musonius 1.

PROCONSVL of AchaeaiRole name: PROCONSVL of Achaea a. 353: Lib. Or. 181 μετὰ γὰρ τὴν τῶν τυράννων κατάλυσιν, (Constantius) δωρεῖται τοὺς Ἕλληνας τῇ Στρατηγίου πρᾳότητι, κόσμον τῆς αὑτοῦ βασιλείας τὴν ἐκείνου νομίζων ἐν ἀρχαῖς χρηστότητα; he induced the Athenians to offer Libanius a chair Lib. Or. Ι 82-5, 106.

PPO ORIENTISiRole name: PPO ORIENTIS a. 354-8: in 354 he succeeded Domitianus 3 as PPO under Gallus Caesar Amm. XV 13.1 (Musonianus eius successor Orientem praetoriani regebat potestate praefecti). Lib. Or. I 106 ἀρχὴν ἔχων ἣ τῶν ἄλλων ἄρχει, XIX 47; he conducted the trial of those involved in the death of Theophilus 1 consularis Syriae Amm. XV 13.2, Lib. Or. XIX 47; in 357 he began negotiations with the Persian commander Tamsapor Amm. XVI 9.2-3, 10.21, cf. XVII 5.12, Them. Or. IV 57B; in 358 he proposed that Eustathius 1 (a philosopher) be sent as envoy to Persia Amm. XVII 5.15. His laws: 354 July 25 CTh VIII 5.5^α; 357^S (MSS 358 6, ind. XV 7) June 7 CTh I 5.6^α + 7^α; 357^S (MSS 356 coss., ind. XV) Jan. 15 CTh XII 12.2^α (concerns Egypt); he reorganised the fleet of navicularii in the East CTh XIII 5.14 (a. 371). He befriended Libanius and was rewarded with a panegyric Lib. Or. I 107-13, cf. Ep. 36, 345 (358-9); he received in 356 Lib. Ep. 497, in 357/8 Ep. 344, in 358 Ep. 323, 356 (on tour in Egypt in 358), and after retiring Ep. 378 (a. 358), Ep.. 388 (a. 358/9); mentioned in office Ep. 405 (a. 354), Ep. 392, 394, 400, 401, 430, 431, 434, 435 (a. 355), Ep. 454, 463, 464 (a. 355/6), Ep. 468 (a. 356), Ep. 537, 546 (a. 356/7), Ep. 315, 552, 561, 580 (a. 357), Ep. 330 (a. 357/8), Ep. 326, 335, 338, 345, 353, 362 (a. 358).

He was succeeded in 358 before Aug. 24 by Hermogenes 3 Lib. Ep. 21 and he retired to Constantinople Ep. 378. Also mentioned Ep. 36 (a. 358/9), Ep. 173 (a. 360), Bas. Ep. 11.

He was dead by 371 Feb. 11 CTh XIII 5.14 Musoniani clarissimae memoriae p(raefecti) p(raetorio).

He was a Christian, well versed in both Greek and Latin (above); he was venal Amm. XVI 9.2 bonis artibus eruditus, sed venalis et flecti a veritate pecunia facilis; apart from his venality he had a good reputation as a governor Amm. XV 13.2 prudens alia tolerabilisque provinciis, et mitis et blandus, set ex qualibet occasione maximeque ex controversis litibus (quod nefandum est) et in totum lucrandi aviditate sordescens.