Rabanus Maurus (left), supported by Alcuin (middle), presents his work to Otgar of Mainz

Flaccus Albinus Alcuinus or Ealhwine (c. 735 – May 19, 804) was a scholar, ecclesiastic, poet and teacher from York, England. He was born around 735 and became the student of Egbert at York. At the invitation of Charlemagne, he became a leading scholar and teacher at the Carolingian court, where he remained a figure at court in the 780s and 790s. He wrote many theological and dogmatic treatises, as well as a few grammatical works and a number of poems. He was made abbot of Saint Martin's at Tours in 796, where he remained until his death. He is considered among the most important architects of the Carolingian Renaissance. Among his pupils were many of the dominant intellectuals of the Carolingian era. Alcuin College is a college of the University of York. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Raban-Maur_Alcuin_Otgar. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Raban-Maur_Alcuin_Otgar. ... Rabanus Maurus (left) presents his work to Otgar of Mainz Rabanus Maurus Magnentius (c. ... is the 139th day of the year (140th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... May 19 - Alcuin Lu Yu, the Sage of Tea Ibrahim Al-Mausili Categories: | ... This article is about the English city. ... Sample of Carolingian minuscule, one of the products of the Carolingian Renaissance. ...

Biography

Alcuin of York had a long career as a teacher and scholar, first at the school at York now known as St Peter's School, York (founded AD 627) and later as Charlemagne's leading advisor on ecclesiastical and educational affairs. From 796 until his death he was abbot of the great monastery of St. Martin of Tours. Founded in the English City of York by St Paulinus of York in 627, St. ... Charlemagne and Pippin the Hunchback. ... Abbots coat of arms The word abbot, meaning father, has been used as a Christian clerical title in various, mainly monastic, meanings. ... Monastery of St. ... Saint Martin of Tours (Latin: Martinus), (316/317 – November 11, 397 in Candes) was a bishop of Tours whose shrine became a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. ...

Alcuin came to the cathedral school of York in the golden age of Egbert and Eadbert. Egbert had been a disciple of the Venerable Bede who urged him to have York raised to an archbishopric. Eadbert was the king and brother to Egbert. These two men oversaw the reenergizing and reorganization of the English church with an emphasis on reforming the clergy and on the tradition of learning begun under Bede. Alcuin thrived under Egbert’s tutelage who loved him especially. It was in York that he formed his love of classical poetry, though he was sometimes troubled by the fact that it was written by non-Christians. Ecgberht, Archbishop of York (or Ecgberht; died 766), was made bishop of York in 734 by Ceolwulf of Northumbria, succeeding Wilfrid II on the latters resignation. ... Eadberht (sometimes spelled as Eadbert or Edbert) (died 768), also known as Eadberht Eating, was the king of Northumbria from 737 to 758, when he abdicated in favour of his son Oswulf and became a monk at York. ... Ecgberht, Archbishop of York (or Ecgberht; died 766), was made bishop of York in 734 by Ceolwulf of Northumbria, succeeding Wilfrid II on the latters resignation. ... Bede (IPA: ) (also Saint Bede, the Venerable Bede, or (from Latin) Beda (IPA: )), (ca. ... York shown within England Coordinates: , Sovereign state Constituent country Region Yorkshire and the Humber Ceremonial county North Yorkshire Admin HQ York City Centre Founded 71 City Status 71 Government  - Type Unitary Authority, City  - Governing body City of York Council  - Leadership: Leader & Executive  - Executive: Liberal Democrat  - MPs: Hugh Bayley (L) John... In Christianity, an archbishop is an elevated bishop heading a diocese of particular importance due to either its size, history, or both, called an archdiocese. ... Eadberht (sometimes spelled as Eadbert or Edbert) (died 768), also known as Eadberht Eating, was the king of Northumbria from 737 to 758, when he abdicated in favour of his son Oswulf and became a monk at York. ... Ecgberht, Archbishop of York (or Ecgberht; died 766), was made bishop of York in 734 by Ceolwulf of Northumbria, succeeding Wilfrid II on the latters resignation. ... The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and is the mother branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion. ... Bede (IPA: ) (also Saint Bede, the Venerable Bede, or (from Latin) Beda (IPA: )), (ca. ... Ecgberht, Archbishop of York (or Ecgberht; died 766), was made bishop of York in 734 by Ceolwulf of Northumbria, succeeding Wilfrid II on the latters resignation. ...

The York school was renowned as a center of learning not only in religious matters but also in the liberal arts, literature and science named the seven liberal arts.^[1] It was from here that Alcuin drew inspiration for the school he would lead at the Frankish court. He revived the school with disciplines such as the trivium and the quadrivium. Two codices were written, by himself on the trivium, and by his student Hraban.^[1] on the quadrivium. Statue of Charlemagne (also called Karl der Große, Charles the Great) in Frankfurt, Germany. ... For any other uses see, see Trivium (disambiguation). ... The quadrivium comprised the four subjects taught in medieval universities after the trivium. ... Rabanus Maurus (left) presents his work to Otgar of Mainz Rabanus Maurus Magnentius (c. ...

Alcuin graduated from student to teacher sometime in the 750s. His ascendancy to the headship of the York school began after Aelbert became Archbishop of York in 767. Around the same time Alcuin became a deacon in the church. He was never ordained as a priest and there is no real evidence that he became an actual monk, but he lived his life like one. York shown within England Coordinates: , Sovereign state Constituent country Region Yorkshire and the Humber Ceremonial county North Yorkshire Admin HQ York City Centre Founded 71 City Status 71 Government  - Type Unitary Authority, City  - Governing body City of York Council  - Leadership: Leader & Executive  - Executive: Liberal Democrat  - MPs: Hugh Bayley (L) John... Ethelbert, Archbishop of York (unknown - November 8, 780) (according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle or 781), was the teacher and intimate friend of Alcuin, whose poem on the saints and prelates of the Church of York, De Sanctis et Pontificibus Ecclesiæ Eboracensis, is the principal source of information concerning Ethelbert...

In 781, King Elfwald sent Alcuin to Rome to petition the Pope for official confirmation of York’s status as an archbishopric and to confirm the election of a new archbishop, Eanbald I. It was then, on his way home, that Alcuin met Charles, king of the Franks. Ælfwald (died 23 September 788) was king of Northumbria from 778 to 788. ... Nickname: Motto: SPQR: Senatus Populusque Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 21 April 753 BC Government  - Mayor Walter Veltroni Area  - City 1,285 km²  (580 sq mi)  - Urban 5... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Pope (from Latin... Eanbald I, Died: August 10, 796 Eanbald was elected Archbishop of York in 780. ... Charlemagne and Pippin the Hunchback. ... This article is about the Frankish people and society. ...

Alcuin was reluctantly persuaded to join Charles's court. His love of the church and his intellectual curiosity made the offer one that he could not refuse. He was to join an already illustrious group of scholars that Charles had gathered around him like Peter of Pisa, Paulinus, Rado, and Abbot Fulrad. He would later write that "the Lord was calling me to the service of King Charles." Paulinus/Paullinus is a Roman cognomen that can refer to: Gaius Suetonius Paullinus, general who defeated Boudica Marcus Iunius Caesonius Nicomachus Anicius Faustus Paulinus, consul in 298 Sextus Anicius Faustus Paulinus, consul in 325 Amnius Manius Caesonius Nicomachus Anicius Paulinus, consul in 334 St. ... Rado or Radó is a surname, and may refer to: Alexander Rado (1899-1981), a Hungarian-born Soviet military intelligence agent Elisabeth Rado (1899-1986), a Yugoslavian opera singer Gaby Rado (1955-2003), a British television journalist James Rado (James Radomski, 1932-), an American actor Rado, mayor of the palace... Saint Fulrad ( Fulrade) (710—July 16, 784) was abbot of St. ...

Alcuin was welcomed at the Palace School of Charlemagne. The school had been founded under the king’s ancestors as a place for educating the royal children, mostly in manners and the ways of the court. However, King Charles wanted more than this – he wanted to include the liberal arts and, most importantly, the study of the religion that he held sacred. From 782 to 790, Alcuin had as pupils Charlemagne himself, his sons Pepin and Louis, the young men sent for their education to the court, and the young clerics attached to the palace chapel. Bringing with him from York his assistants Pyttel, Sigewulf and Joseph, Alcuin revolutionized the educational standards of the Palace School, introducing Charlemagne to the liberal arts and creating a personalized atmosphere of scholarship and learning to the extent that the institution came to be known as the "school of Master Albinus". Possible reconstruction of Charlemagnes palace Charlemagnes Palace in Aachen was a collection of residential, political and religious buildings used by Charlemagne as the centre of power of his Carolingian Empire. ... In the history of education, the seven liberal arts comprise two groups of studies, the trivium and the quadrivium. ... A cleric is a member of the clergy of a religion, especially one that has trained or ordained priests, preachers, or other religious professionals. ... Charlemagnes chapel in Aachen. ...

Charlemagne was master at gathering the best men of every nation in his court. He himself became far more than just the king at the center. It seems that Charlemagne made many of these men his closest friends and counselors. They referred to him as "David", a reference to the Biblical King David. Alcuin soon found himself on intimate terms with the king and with the other men at court to whom he gave nicknames to be used for work and play^{citation needed}. Alcuin himself was known as "Albinus" or "Flaccus". Like many of his learned contemporaries, Alcuin was an astrologer. David Berlinski, author of The Secrets of the Vaulted Sky: Astrology and the Art of Prediction (ISBN 0-15-100527-3) writes: "The ninth-century philosopher Alcuin, his voyages to the Middle East now abrogated, was an astrological adept, and it is widely claimed that he taught Charlemagne the principles of classical astrology" (pg. 116, 2003). This article is about the Biblical king of Israel. ... An astrologer practices one or more forms of astrology. ... David Berlinski (born 1942 in New York City) is an educator and author of popular books on mathematics, and a notable proponent of intelligent design, author of numerous articles on the topic. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... An astrological chart (or horoscope) _ Y2K Chart — This particular chart is calculated for January 1, 2000 at 12:01:00 A.M. Eastern Standard Time in New York City, New York, USA. (Longitude: 074W0023 - Latitude: 40N4251) Astrology (from Greek: αστρολ&#959... Western astrology is the system of astrology most popular in Western countries. ...

Alcuin’s friendships also extended to the ladies of the court, especially the queen mother and the daughters of the king. His relationships with these women, however, never reached the intense level of those with the men around him^{citation needed}.

In 790 Alcuin went back to England, to which he had always been greatly attached. He dwelt there for some time, but Charlemagne then invited him back to help in the fight against the Adoptionist heresy which was at that time making great progress in Toledo, Spain, the old capital town of the Visigoths and still a major city for the Christians under Islamic rule in Spain. He is believed to have had contacts with Beatus of Liébana, from the Kingdom of Asturias, who fought against Adoptionism. At the Council of Frankfurt in 794, Alcuin upheld the orthodox doctrine, and obtained the condemnation of the heresiarch Felix of Urgel. Having failed during his stay in England to influence King Aethelraed of Northumbria in the conduct of his reign, Alcuin never returned to live in England. Alcuin was back at Charlemagne's court by at least mid 792, writing a series of letters to Aethelraed of Northumbria, to Hygbald, Bishop of Lindisfarne, and Aethelheard, Archbishop of Canterbury in the succeeding months, which deal with the attack on Lindisfarne by Viking raiders in July 792. These letters, and Alcuin's poem on the subject De clade Lindisfarnensis monasterii provide the only significant contemporary account of these events. Adoptionism is a minority Christian belief that Jesus was born merely human and that he became divine later in his life. ... Heresy, as a blanket term, describes a practice or belief that is labeled as unorthodox. ... For other uses, see Toledo (disambiguation). ... Migrations The Visigoths (Western Goths) were one of two main branches of the Goths, an East Germanic tribe (the Ostrogoths being the other). ... Islam (Arabic: ; ( â–¶ (help· info)), the submission to God) is a monotheistic faith, one of the Abrahamic religions and the worlds second-largest religion. ... The world map from the Saint-Sever Beatus measuring 37 X 57 cm. ... Flag Motto: Hoc Signo Tuetur Pius, Hoc Signo Vincitur Inimicus (English: With this sign thou shalt defend the pious, with this sign thou shalt defeat the enemy) Capital Cangas de Onis, San Martín, Pravia, Oviedo Language(s) Asturian, Latin Religion Roman Catholicism Government Monarchy King  - 718-737 Pelayo of... The Council of Frankfurt in 794 was called by Charlemagne. ... Felix, Bishop of Urgel (or Urgell), was a religious figure who lived at the monastery Sant Sadureni de Tabernoles in the foothills of the Pyrenees. ... Æthelred was king of Northumbria from 774 to 779 and again from 788 or 789 until his murder in 796. ... Tower of St Hybalds Church in Hibaldstow Saint Hybald. ... Map of the UK showing the location of Lindisfarne at 55. ... Saint Æthelhard (also Aethelheard or Ethelhard) was archbishop of Canterbury from 793 to 12 May 805. ... The Archbishop of Canterbury is the spiritual leader and senior clergyman of the Church of England, recognized by convention as the head of the worldwide Anglican Communion. ... For other uses, see Viking (disambiguation). ...

In 796 Alcuin was in his sixties. He hoped to be free from court duties and was given the chance when Abbot Itherius of Saint Martin at Tours died. King Charles gave the abbey into Alcuin's care with the understanding that he should be available if the king ever needed his counsel. Saint Martin of Tours (Latin: Martinus), (316/317 – November 11, 397 in Candes) was a bishop of Tours whose shrine became a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. ... Charlemagne and Pippin the Hunchback. ...

As a Carolingian Renaissance figure

He made the abbey school into a model of excellence, and many students flocked to it; he had many manuscripts copied, the calligraphy of which is of outstanding beauty. He wrote many letters to his friends in England, to Arno, bishop of Salzburg, and above all to Charlemagne. These letters, of which 311 are extant, are filled mainly with pious meditations, but they further form a mine of information as to the literary and social conditions of the time, and are the most reliable authority for the history of humanism in the Carolingian age. He also trained the numerous monks of the abbey in piety, and it was in the midst of these pursuits that he died. Contemporary Calligraphy Calligraphy (from Greek kallos beauty + graphẽ writing) is the art of beautiful writing (Mediavilla 1996: 17). ... Arno, Arn or Aquila (ca. ... Charlemagne and Pippin the Hunchback. ... See also the specific life stance known as Humanism For the Renaissance liberal arts movement, see Renaissance humanism Humanism is a broad category of ethical philosophies that affirm the dignity and worth of all people, based on the ability to determine right and wrong by appeal to universal human qualities... Also see: France in the Middle Ages. ...

Alcuin is the most prominent figure of the Carolingian Renaissance, in which three main periods have been distinguished: in the first of these, up to the arrival of Alcuin at the court, the Italians occupy the central place; in the second, Alcuin and the Anglo-Saxons are dominant; in the third, which begins in 804, the influence of Theodulf the Visigoth is preponderant. Sample of Carolingian minuscule, one of the products of the Carolingian Renaissance. ... For other uses, see Anglo-Saxon. ... Events March 25 - The Inscription of Sukabumi from Eastern Java marks the beginning of the Javanese language. ... Theodulf, Bishop of Orléans, France, (born about A.D. 760 - died at Angers, France, December 18, 821), a Visigoth either from a still-Christian portion of Spain (which had been conquered by Muslims after 710) or the South of France (which was a former possession of the Visigoths), came...

We owe to him, too, some manuals used in his educational work; a grammar and works on rhetoric and dialectics. They are written in the form of dialogues, and in the two last the interlocutors are Charlemagne and Alcuin. He also wrote several theological treatises: a De fide Trinitatis, commentaries on the Bible, etc. For the rules of English grammar, see English grammar and Disputes in English grammar. ... Rhetoric (from Greek , rhêtôr, orator, teacher) is generally understood to be the art or technique of persuasion through the use of spoken language; however, this definition of rhetoric has expanded greatly since rhetoric emerged as a field of study in universities. ... Broadly speaking, a dialectic (Greek: διαλεκτική) is an exchange of propositions (theses) and counter-propositions (antitheses) resulting in a disagreement. ... A dialogue (sometimes spelt dialog[1]) is a reciprocal conversation between two or more entities. ... Theology is literally rational discourse concerning God (Greek θεος, theos, God, + λογος, logos, rational discourse). By extension, it also refers to the study of other religious topics. ... This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library. ...

Alcuin transmitted to the Franks the knowledge of Latin culture which had existed in England. We still have a number of his works. His letters have already been mentioned; his poetry is equally interesting. Besides some graceful epistles in the style of Fortunatus, he wrote some long poems, and notably a whole history in verse of the church at York: Versus de patribus, regibus et sanctis Eboracensis ecclesiae. This article is about the Frankish people and society. ... This article is about the art form. ... Fortunatus, is the legendary hero of a popular European chap-book. ...

Alcuin died on May 19, 804, some ten years before the emperor. He was buried at St. Martin’s Church under an epitaph that partly read: is the 139th day of the year (140th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events March 25 - The Inscription of Sukabumi from Eastern Java marks the beginning of the Javanese language. ...

Alcuin College, part of the University of York, is named after him. The Alcuin Society brings together lovers of books and awards an annual prize for excellence in book design. Alcuin College is a college of the University of York. ... The University of York is a campus university in York, England. ... A voluntary association established in 1965 by Geoff Spencer, The Alcuin Society is a non-profit organization founded for the book arts. ...

On freedom of conscience

As chief adviser to Charles the Great, he bravely tackled the emperor over his policy of forcing pagans to be baptised on pain of death. He argued, “Faith is a free act of the will, not a forced act. We must appeal to the conscience, not compel it by violence. You can force people to be baptised, but you cannot force them to believe.” His arguments prevailed; Charlemagne abolished the death penalty for paganism in 797. (Needham, Dr. N.R., Two Thousand Years of Christ’s Power, Part Two: The Middle Ages, Grace Publications, 2000, page 52.)

Further reading

• Alcuin of York, his life and letters, Stephen Allot ISBN 0-900657-21-9
• Alcuin: achievement and reputation, Donald Bullough, 2004
• Alcuin and the Rise of the Christian Schools by Andrew Fleming West ISBN 0-8371-1635-X
• Alcuin, Friend of Charlemagne, Eleanor Shipley Duckett, 1951
• Carolingian Portraits, Eleanor Shipley Duckett, 1962
• The Carolingians and the Frankish Monarchy, F. L. Ganshof, ISBN 0-582-48227-5
• Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality, John Boswell, ISBN 0-226-06710-6
• Friendship, and Community: The Monastic Experience, Brian P. McGuire, ISBN 0-87907-895-2
• Medieval Latin Love Poems of Male Love and Friendship, Thomas Stehling
• Poetry of the Carolingian Renaissance, Peter Godman, ISBN 0-7156-1768-0

Notes

Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 153rd day of the year (154th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

• This article incorporates public domain text from: Cousin, John William (1910). A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature. London, J.M. Dent & sons; New York, E.P. Dutton.

The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ... A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature is a collection of biographies of writers by John W. Cousin, published around 1910. ...

External links

• O'Connor, John J; Edmund F. Robertson "Alcuin". MacTutor History of Mathematics archive.  
• Alcuin's book, Problems for the Quickening of the Minds of the Young
• The Alcuin Society

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