Ambrose was the Roman governor of Liguria and Emilia before he was made Bishop of Milan by popular acclamation in 374.   Trained as a rhetorician, Ambrose was a persuasive preacher who refuted most eloquently the theological propositions of the Arians and won the admiration of a young agnostic seeker from north Africa named Augustine, whom he baptized as a convert to Christianity in 387.

The time arrived for me to give my name for baptism, so we left the country and moved back to Milan.  Alypius had decided to join me in being reborn in you, O Lord, and was already clothed with the humility that befitted your mysteries.  We associated the boy Adeodatus with us as well, my son according to the flesh, born of my sin.  He was then about fifteen, but we included him in the group as our contemporary in the life of your grace, to be instructed along with us in your doctrine.