Alcuin

ALCUIN, al´cwin (English name, Ealhwine; Lat. Flaccus Albinus): The most prominent adviser of Charlemagne in his efforts to promote learning; b. in Northumbria (perhaps in York) 735 (730 ?); d. at Tours May 19, 804. He was of good birth and a relative of Willibrod. He was educated in the famous cathedral school of Archbishop Egbert of York, under a master, Ethelbert (Albert), who seems to have been a man of many-sided learning and who is often praised by Alcuin. With him, or commissioned by him, Alcuin made several visits to Rome, and on such journeys became acquainted with Frankish monasteries and with men like Lul of Mainz and Fulrad of St. Denis. He succeeded Ethelbert as head of the school when the latter was made archbishop (766), and, after Ethelbert’s retirement and the elevation of Eanbald to the archiepiscopal throne (778), was also custos of the valuable cathedral library at York. He went to Rome to obtain the pallium for Eanbald, and at Parma (781) met Charlemagne to whom he was already known. Shortly after his return to England he accepted a call from the Frankish king, who was then gathering scholars at his court, and, with the exception of a visit to his native land on political business in 790-793, spent the rest of his life on the Continent. Charlemagne gave him the income of several abbeys, and till 790 he acted as head of a court school, where not only the sons of the Frankish nobles, but Charlemagne and his family as well, profited by his instruction.

A true scholar and teacher, Alcuin seldom meddled in worldly affairs, and his letters (more than 300 in number) give little historical information, though they are rich in personal details. He took an active part in the Adoptionist controversy, wrote two treatises against Felix of Urgel, and opposed his colleague, Elipandus. At the Synod of Frankfort in 794 he assisted in the condemnation of Felix, and later, at the Synod of Aachen in 799 (800?), induced him to recant (see Adoptionism). From 793 he was the constant and efficient helper of Charlemagne in founding schools, promoting the education of the clergy, and like undertakings. He was also in close association with contemporaries like Arno of Salzburg, Angilbert, abbot of Centula, and Adalhard of Corbie. In 796 his patron gave him the abbey of St. Martin, near Tours, and several other monasteries. Under his guidance the school of Tours became a nursery of ecclesiastical and liberal education for the whole kingdom. His distinguished pupils there included Sigulf, who supplied the information for his biography, Rabanus Maurus, and perhaps the liturgist, Amalarius of Metz. When old and feeble and almost blind, he left the management to his scholars, but he continued to be the counselor of his royal friend till his death.

Alcuin was mild in spirit, adverse to discord, orthodox in faith, equally interested in promoting the authority of Rome and the royal priesthood of Charlemagne. His great service was his part in the so-called Carolingian renaissance, his wise and efficient efforts to elevate and educate the clergy and the monks, to improve preaching, to regulate the Christian life of the people and advance the faith among the heathen, always by instruction rather then by force. His theology, while not original, rests on an intimate acquaintance with the Fathers, especially Jerome and Augustine. To ecclesiastical learning he added classical, but in such manner that it was always the servant of the former. He was able to give his master information concerning astronomy and natural science but, as he considered grammar and philosophy auxiliary to religion, so he regarded these branches of knowledge primarily as a means of knowing God.

(Ealwine, Alchwin, Alchuin, Alquinus, Flaccus Albinus); Alcuine (V. 8. Willibrordi cap. xxxiv. "Carmiger indoctus cecinit hos Alcuine versus") Alcuinus (" Qui legat, Alcuinum, dicat rogo Christe, tuere. Epigr. 279"). Alcuin was born of noble Northumbrian parentage about 735, The exact date of his birth and the names of his parents are unknown, but the year 735 is accepted by the best authorities, Mabillon and Froben, as an approximation ; and the position of his family is determined by his own words. He was, he tells us (V. 8. Willibrordi, lib. i.c.1), the hereditary representative of the noble house from which 8, Willibrord, the apostle of the Frisians, sprang. As such he possessed and ruled a little monastic society which had been founded by Willigis, the father of S. Willibrord, in honour of S. Andrew, on one of the promontories of the Yorkshire coast between the Humber and the North Sea.

He was brought up from infancy in the school founded by archbishop Egbert in connexion with the church of York. Here he received instruction both from the archbishop, himself the dis- ciple and friend of Bede, and from Ethelberht, the master of the school, who became archbishop in 767. The nature of the education thus obtained is described by the biographer of Alcuin, who drew his information from Sigulf, a pupil in the same school, as beginning with grammar and leading up through the liberal discipline of literature and philosophy to the study of the Holy Scriptures. It involved certainly a fair acquaintance with the Latin poets, some knowledge of the Greek Fathers, handed down from Theodore and Adrian, and as much Hebrew as could be learned from the study of S. Jerome, The library of York contained books in all the three languages, including the works of Aristotle and Cicero (Alc. de Pontiff. vv. 1525-1562).

Alcuin was the favourite pupil of Egbert, who is said to have presaged great things for him, and who provided for his advancement in secular as well as theological learning. With Ethelbert, before his promotion, it is probable that Alcuin visited Rome, and on his journey spent a short time in study at one or two French monasteries.