Caius Lollinus, an eminent Christian writer and bishop in the 5th century, was born of a noble family in France. He was educated under the best masters, and made great progress in the several arts and sciences, but particularly in poetry and polite literature. He married Papianilla, the daughter of Avitus, who was consul, and afterwards emperor, by whom he had three children. But Majorianus, in the year 475, having deprived Avitus of the empire, and taken the city of Lyons, in which our author resided, Apollinaris fell into the hands of the enemy. However, the reputation of his learning softened Majorianus's resentment, so that he treated him with the utmost civility; in return for which Apollinaris composed a panegyric in his honour, which was so highly applauded, that he had a statue erected to him at Rome, and was honoured with the title of Count. In the year 467 the emperor Anthemius rewarded him for the panegyric which he had written in honour of him, by raising him to the post of governor of Rome, and afterwards to the dignity of a patrician and senator. But he soon quitted these secular employments for the service of the church. The bishopric of Clermont being vacant in 472 by the death of Eparchus, Apollinaris, who was then only a layman, was chosen to succeed him. Clement being besieged by the Goths, he animated the people to the defence of that city, and would never consent to the surrender of it; so that, when it was taken about the year 480, he was obliged to retire; but he was soon restored by Evariges, king of the Goths, and continued to govern the church as he had done before. He died on the 21st of August 487. He is esteemed one of the most elegant writers of his age, both in prose and verse. His chief works are his Panegyrics upon the emperors Avitus, Majorianus, and Anthemius, and a collection of Letters and Poems. The best edition of these productions is that by Sirmond, published in 1614, and republished by Labbe in 1652, in 4to. There is a French translation of his Letters.