Who was Quintus Aurelius Symmachus and why did he disagree with St. Ambrose?

Quintus Aurelius Symmachus (c. 345–402) was a prominent Roman statesman, orator, and writer who served as a leading advocate for traditional Roman paganism during a period of increasing Christian influence.1

He and St. Ambrose were relatives who held opposing views on the role of religion in the Roman state. Their primary disagreement centered on the Altar of Victory, a symbol of Rome's pagan heritage located in the Senate House.2

In 382, the emperor Gratian, influenced by St. Ambrose, ordered the altar's removal. Symmachus was appointed by the Senate to petition the emperors to restore the altar and revoke anti-pagan measures, arguing for the preservation of traditional religious practices. St. Ambrose, however, successfully opposed these appeals, viewing the church as a spiritual authority that should guide the state and prevent the resurgence of pagan influence. Their conflict is famously documented in Symmachus’s Third Relatio and the letters written by St. Ambrose in response.12