He should not be confused with another Aquilinus, who was killed during the reign of the Arian Vandal king Hunneric in 484.

[2] This 5th century Aquilinus was killed with Eugene, Geminus, Marcian, Quintus, Theodotus, and Tryphon.

Born in Würzburg to a noble family, he studied theology in Cologne, where he became a priest.

[3] He was offered the bishopric of Cologne, but he refused, preferring to become a wandering preacher.

[3] He then traveled to Milan, where, according to local tradition, he was stabbed by a member of one of these sects,[4] along with his companion Constantius (Costanzo).