Who was Alcuin? An Englishman!

Picture of MANUSCRIPT - Alcuin's Vulgate (9th century)


An educator, scholar, and theologian, Alcuin was born about 735 in or near York, in the north of England, and died 804. He was of noble birth, and in childhood he entered the cathedral school in York founded by Archbishop Egbert. His ability and holiness attracted the attention of the Archbishop, who devoted special attention to his education. In 767 he succeeded as master of the school, attracting numerous students and greatly expanding the already valuable library.

On a visit to Rome in March, 781, he met Charlemagne at Parma, and was persuaded by him move to France and become “Master of the Palace School”. Under his leadership the Palace School became the centre of knowledge and culture for the whole of Europe. Charlemagne himself, his queen, Luitgard, his sister Gisela, his three sons and two daughters became pupils of the school, and the rest of the nobility soon began to follow their example.

Alcuin attended the Synod of Frankfort in 794, and contributed to the drawing up of the decrees condemning Adoptionism. In 796, he was appointed by Charlemagne Abbot of St. Martin’s at Tours where he built up a model monastic school, gathering books and attracting the most promising students from far and near. He died 19 May, 804.

Through his work, Anglo-Saxon scholarship achieved a very wide influence, and the rich intellectual legacy of Bede at Jarrow, taken up by Alcuin, became the permanent possession of civilized Europe.