The year 364 is assigned for the date of the publication of the three books. Maran, Vit. Bas. viii.  At that time Basil sent them with a few words of half ironical depreciation to Leontius the sophist. cf. Ep. xx.  He was now about thirty-four years of age, and describes himself as hitherto inexperienced in such a kind of composition. 1 Eunom. i.  Eunomius, like his illustrious opponent, was a Cappadocian.  Emulous of the notoriety achieved by Aetius the Anomœan, and urged on by Secundus of Ptolemais, an intimate associate of Aetius, he went to Alexandria about 356 and resided there for two years as Aetius’ admiring pupil and secretary.  In 358 he accompanied Aetius to Antioch, and took a prominent part in the assertion of the extreme doctrines which revolted the more moderate Semiarians.  He was selected as the champion of the advanced blasphemers, made himself consequently obnoxious to Constantius, and was apprehended and relegated to Migde in Phrygia.  At the same time Eudoxius withdrew for a while into Armenia, his native province, but ere long was restored to the favour of the fickle Constantius, and was appointed to the see of Constantinople in 359.  Eunomius now was for overthrowing Aetius, and removing whatever obstacles stood between him and promotion, and, by the influence of Eudoxius, was nominated to the see of Cyzicus, vacant by the deposition of Eleusius.  Here for a while he temporized, but ere long displayed his true sentiments.  To answer for this he was summoned to Constantinople by Constantius, and, in his absence, condemned and deposed.  Now he became more marked than ever in his assertion of the most extreme Arianism, and the advanced party were henceforward known under his name.  The accession of Julian brought him back with the rest of the banished bishops, and he made Constantinople the centre for the dissemination of his views. Theod., H.E. ii. 25; and Hær. Fab. iv. 3.  Philost., H.E. vi. 1.