Alcuin

b. 735; d. 804

Celebrated Anglo-Saxon scholar, born in York, and educated at the cathedral school there, of which he afterwards became headmaster. At Parma in the year 781 he met Charlemagne, who enlisted his services in the cause of education. Alcuin founded and directed the schola palatina. In old age Charlemagne gave him the abbey of St Martin at Tours which he reformed and governed until his death. Alcuin was a prolific writer, mostly on theology and the liturgy. Some martyrologies describe him as Beatus (Blessed)

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