E. Dümmler in Poetae Latini aevi Carolini, I. 1. 169–351, and some additional poetry is given
in Addenda, Tom. II. 692.
II. Vita (Migne, C. col. 89–106), anonymous, but probably by a monk of Ferrières, based upon
information given by Sigulf, Alcuin’s pupil and successor as abbot of Ferrières. De vita B. F.
Albini seu Alcuini commentatio (col. 17–90), by Froben, for the most part an expansion of the
former by the introduction of discussions upon many points. Eulogium historicum Beati Alcuini
(CI. col. 1416–1442), by Mabillon. Of interest and value also are the Testimonia veterum et
quorumdam recentiorum scriptorum (col. 121–134), brief notices of Alcuin by contemporaries
and others.
III. Modern biographies and more general works in which Alcuin is discussed. Friedrich Lorentz:
Alcuin’s Leben, Halle, 1829, Eng, trans. by Jane Mary Slee, London, 1837. Francis Monnier:
Alcuin et son influence littéraire, religieuse et politique chez les France, Paris, 1853, 2d ed.
entitled Alcuin et Charlemagne, Paris, 1864. Karl Werner: Alcuin and sein Jahrhundert,
Paderborn, 1876, 2d ed. (unchanged), 1881. J. Bass Mullinger: The schools of Charles the
Great, London, 1877. Cf. Du Pin, VI. 121–124. Ceiller, XII. 165–214. Hist. Lit. de la France,
IV. 295–347. Clarke, II. 453–459. Bähr, 78–84; 192–195; 302–341. Wattenbach, 3d ed. I.
123 sqq; Ebert, II. 12–36. Guizot: History of Civilization, Eng. trans, , Bohn’s ed. ii. 231–253.
The art. Alcuin by Bishop Stubbs in Smith and Wace, Dict. Chr. Biog. (i. 73–76), deserves
particular mention.
Flaccus Albinus, or, as he is commonly called in the Old English form, Alcuin^1109 ("friend of
the temple"), the ecclesiastical prime minister of Charlemagne, was born in Yorkshire about 735.
He sprang from a noble Northumbrian family, the one to which Willibrord, apostle of the Frisians,
belonged, and inherited considerable property, including the income of a monastic society on the
Yorkshire coast.^1110 At tender age he was taken to the famous cathedral school at York, and there
was educated by his loving and admiring friends, Egbert, archbishop of York (732–766) and founder
of the school, and Ethelbert, its master. With the latter he made several literary journeys on the
continent, once as far as Rome, and each time returned laden with MS. treasures, secured, by a
liberal expenditure of money, from different monasteries. Thus they greatly enlarged the library
which Egbert had founded.^1111 In 766 Ethelbert succeeded Egbert in the archbishopric of York, and
appointed Alcuin, who had previously been a teacher, master of the cathedral school, ordained him
a deacon, Feb. 2, 767, and made him one of the secular canons of York minster. In 767 he had
Liudger for a pupil. Some time between the latter year and 780,^1112 Ethelbert sent him to Italy on
a commission to Charlemagne, whom he met, probably at Pavia. In 780 Ethelbert retired from his
see and gave over to Alcuin the care of the library, which now was without a rival in England.
Alcuin gives a catalogue of it,^1113 thus throwing welcome light upon the state of learning at the
time. In 780 Alcuin again visited Rome to fetch the pallium for Eanbald, Ethelbert’s successor.
(^1109) Other forms are Ealdwine, Alchwin, Alquinus.
(^1110) Vita S. Willibrordi, I. i. (Migne, CI. col. 695).
(^1111) De pontificibus et sanctis eccles. Ebor., vv. 1453-56 (CI. Col. 841).
(^1112) Mullinger (p. 47) says in 768.
(^1113) De pont. et Sanct. eccles. Eb. vers. 1535-1561 (Dümmler, l.c. 203, 204; Migne, CI. col. 843 sq. ).