Eigil of Fulda
Encyclopedia
Eigil (c.750-822) was the fourth abbot of Fulda
. He was the nephew and biographer of the abbey's founder and first abbot Saint Sturm. We know about Eigil primarily from the Latin Life (Vita Aegili) that the monk and teacher of Fulda, Candidus Bruun composed about him after his death.
Eigil's parents, who were nobles of Norica, sent him to the abbey of Fulda (still Under Sturm's rule) for his education. Sturm died in 779 and was succeeded by Baugulf
The next abbot, Ratgar
, with his excessive severity, caused deep divisions in the monastery. In 811, monks from Fulda, possibly including Egil, petitioned Emperor Charlemagne
to remove the abbot. Finally, in 817, Ratgarius was denounced by the monks. Charlemagne's son and successor, Louis the Pious, banished Ratgar and sent two of his delegates, Aaron and Adalfrid, along with their associates to reform the abbey according to proper monastic discipline . Eigil was elected in 818, and, says Candidus, brought harmony to the monastery once again. In a poem, his student and successor Hrabanus Maurus celebrated his clemency and gentleness,supporting Candidus' positive portrait.
Under Eigil, several building projects were dedicated at Fulda. In 819, the Archbishop Haistolf came to Fulda to dedicate the Basilica of Saint Boniface (who was considered a co-founder of the abbey, with his disciple Sturm), and Boniface's holy relics - his bones - were translated (that is, conveyed in a public religious ceremony) to the new Basilica.
Eigil died in 822 and was succeeded by the head teacher of Fulda's school, Hraban Maur, one of his former pupils. Candidus' Vita treats Eigil as a saint, but other writers, such as Hraban do not.
Fulda
Fulda is a city in Hesse, Germany; it is located on the river Fulda and is the administrative seat of the Fulda district .- Early Middle Ages :...
. He was the nephew and biographer of the abbey's founder and first abbot Saint Sturm. We know about Eigil primarily from the Latin Life (Vita Aegili) that the monk and teacher of Fulda, Candidus Bruun composed about him after his death.
Eigil's parents, who were nobles of Norica, sent him to the abbey of Fulda (still Under Sturm's rule) for his education. Sturm died in 779 and was succeeded by Baugulf
The next abbot, Ratgar
Ratgar
Ratgar was a controversial abbot at the famous Benedictine monastery of Fulda during the early ninth century.-Life:Ratgar was abbot of the monastery of Fulda from 802 until 817. He was from a noble family in Germania, and was sent by his parents to Fulda, whose monastery school was already...
, with his excessive severity, caused deep divisions in the monastery. In 811, monks from Fulda, possibly including Egil, petitioned Emperor Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
to remove the abbot. Finally, in 817, Ratgarius was denounced by the monks. Charlemagne's son and successor, Louis the Pious, banished Ratgar and sent two of his delegates, Aaron and Adalfrid, along with their associates to reform the abbey according to proper monastic discipline . Eigil was elected in 818, and, says Candidus, brought harmony to the monastery once again. In a poem, his student and successor Hrabanus Maurus celebrated his clemency and gentleness,supporting Candidus' positive portrait.
Under Eigil, several building projects were dedicated at Fulda. In 819, the Archbishop Haistolf came to Fulda to dedicate the Basilica of Saint Boniface (who was considered a co-founder of the abbey, with his disciple Sturm), and Boniface's holy relics - his bones - were translated (that is, conveyed in a public religious ceremony) to the new Basilica.
Eigil died in 822 and was succeeded by the head teacher of Fulda's school, Hraban Maur, one of his former pupils. Candidus' Vita treats Eigil as a saint, but other writers, such as Hraban do not.
Works
Eigil wrote a Life of Saint Sturm, who was a disciple of Saint Boniface as well as the founder, in 742 or 744, and first abbot of the abbey of Fulda (747-779).See also
Abbey of Fulda- Raban Maur
- Candidus Bruun of FuldaCandidus of FuldaCandidus Bruun of Fulda was a Benedictine scholar of the ninth-century Carolingian Renaissance of letters.-Biography:He received his first instruction from the learned Eigil, Abbot of Fulda, 818-822...
- Sturm of FuldaSaint SturmSaint Sturm was a disciple of Saint Boniface and founder and first abbot of the Benedictine monastery and abbey of Fulda in 742 or 744...
- Ratgar of FuldaRatgarRatgar was a controversial abbot at the famous Benedictine monastery of Fulda during the early ninth century.-Life:Ratgar was abbot of the monastery of Fulda from 802 until 817. He was from a noble family in Germania, and was sent by his parents to Fulda, whose monastery school was already...