Ethelbert of York
Encyclopedia
Æthelbert was an eighth century scholar, teacher, priest and Archbishop of York
.
, whose poem on the saints and prelates of the Church of York, De Sanctis et Pontificibus Ecclesiæ Eboracensis, is the principal source of information concerning Æthelbert's life. He was a kinsman of his predecessor Archbishop Ecgbert
, brother to Eadberht
, King of Northumbria and a pupil in the school founded at York
by Ecgbert, who ordained him priest and made him master of the school. Alcuin's affectionate eulogy praised his erudition in grammar, rhetoric, law, poetry, astronomy, natural history, and Scripture, and his stern but supportive nature.
Æthelbert loved books ardently and spared no pains in forming a library at York, which was probably the largest contemporary collection of books to be found in Europe outside of Rome. Alcuin mentions several Latin and Greek classical authors, as well as the Fathers and other Christian writers that formed the 8th century canon
. Æthelbert, in his search for books, travelled far, and we know that he visited Rome among other places. He taught both the trivium as well as the quadrivium
, plus how to figure the dates of church festivals and natural science.
In 766 Æthelbert succeeded Ecgbert as archbishop; he was consecrated 24 April 767, and received his pallium
from Pope Adrian I
in 773. As archbishop he continued his simple and laborious life, working with such success that he is regarded as one of the founders of the diocese of York.
Æthelbert set himself to rebuild the York Minster
, which had been destroyed by fire in 741, employing Eanbald
and Alcuin to oversee the work. Alcuin speaks of its magnificence, its columns and crypts, bright windows and ceilings, the tall crucifix of precious metals, the thirty altars it contained, and the gold, silver, and jewels employed in the decoration of sacred vessels and altars.
From the center of learning at York, Æthelbert sent out preachers and evangelizing teachers among the pagans of Northern Europe: Alubert and Liudger
, missionaries in northern Germany.
In 774, Æthelbert called a council which deposed Alhred, king of Northumbria
and sent the ex-king into exile with the Picts
. The cause of the deposition may have been related to the missionary work. The historian D. P. Kirby feels that Æthelbert was not a supporter of Alhred prior to his deposition. Alhred was replaced with Æthelred
, who was replaced in 778 by Ælfwald
, the son of Oswulf. Kirby sees Æthelbert's withdrawal of support as instrumental in the deposition of Aethelred, noting that Aelfwald was closely related to Ethelbert, unlike both Alhred and Aethelred. Kirby also notes that medieval chroniclers noted that Ethelbert is said to have not "spared evil kings".
In 780 Æthelbert consecrated Eanbald as his coadjutor bishop and committed to Alcuin the care of the school and library and retired to a cell where he spent some time in devotion. He lived long enough to consecrate the new cathedral, ten days before his death on 8 November. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
, however, gives the year of his death at 781.
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
.
Life
Æthelbert, was the teacher and intimate friend of AlcuinAlcuin
Alcuin of York or Ealhwine, nicknamed Albinus or Flaccus was an English scholar, ecclesiastic, poet and teacher from York, Northumbria. He was born around 735 and became the student of Archbishop Ecgbert at York...
, whose poem on the saints and prelates of the Church of York, De Sanctis et Pontificibus Ecclesiæ Eboracensis, is the principal source of information concerning Æthelbert's life. He was a kinsman of his predecessor Archbishop Ecgbert
Ecgbert, Archbishop of York
Ecgbert was an eighth century Archbishop of York and correspondent of Bede and Boniface.-Life:...
, brother to Eadberht
Eadberht of Northumbria
Eadberht was king of Northumbria from 737 or 738 to 758. He was the brother of Ecgbert, Archbishop of York. His reign is seen as a return to the imperial ambitions of seventh-century Northumbria and may represent a period of economic prosperity. He faced internal opposition from rival dynasties...
, King of Northumbria and a pupil in the school founded at York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
by Ecgbert, who ordained him priest and made him master of the school. Alcuin's affectionate eulogy praised his erudition in grammar, rhetoric, law, poetry, astronomy, natural history, and Scripture, and his stern but supportive nature.
Æthelbert loved books ardently and spared no pains in forming a library at York, which was probably the largest contemporary collection of books to be found in Europe outside of Rome. Alcuin mentions several Latin and Greek classical authors, as well as the Fathers and other Christian writers that formed the 8th century canon
Western canon
The term Western canon denotes a canon of books and, more broadly, music and art that have been the most important and influential in shaping Western culture. As such, it includes the "greatest works of artistic merit." Such a canon is important to the theory of educational perennialism and the...
. Æthelbert, in his search for books, travelled far, and we know that he visited Rome among other places. He taught both the trivium as well as the quadrivium
Quadrivium
The quadrivium comprised the four subjects, or arts, taught in medieval universities, after teaching the trivium. The word is Latin, meaning "the four ways" , and its use for the 4 subjects has been attributed to Boethius or Cassiodorus in the 6th century...
, plus how to figure the dates of church festivals and natural science.
In 766 Æthelbert succeeded Ecgbert as archbishop; he was consecrated 24 April 767, and received his pallium
Pallium
The pallium is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Roman Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the Pope, but for many centuries bestowed by him on metropolitans and primates as a symbol of the jurisdiction delegated to them by the Holy See. In that context it has always remained unambiguously...
from Pope Adrian I
Pope Adrian I
Pope Adrian was pope from February 1, 772 to December 25, 795. He was the son of Theodore, a Roman nobleman.Shortly after Adrian's accession the territory ruled by the papacy was invaded by Desiderius, king of the Lombards, and Adrian was compelled to seek the assistance of the Frankish king...
in 773. As archbishop he continued his simple and laborious life, working with such success that he is regarded as one of the founders of the diocese of York.
Æthelbert set himself to rebuild the York Minster
York Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
, which had been destroyed by fire in 741, employing Eanbald
Eanbald I
Eanbald was an eighth century Archbishop of York.-Life:...
and Alcuin to oversee the work. Alcuin speaks of its magnificence, its columns and crypts, bright windows and ceilings, the tall crucifix of precious metals, the thirty altars it contained, and the gold, silver, and jewels employed in the decoration of sacred vessels and altars.
From the center of learning at York, Æthelbert sent out preachers and evangelizing teachers among the pagans of Northern Europe: Alubert and Liudger
Ludger
Saint Ludger was a missionary among the Frisians and Saxons, founder of Werden Abbey and first Bishop of Münster in Westphalia....
, missionaries in northern Germany.
In 774, Æthelbert called a council which deposed Alhred, king of Northumbria
Alhred of Northumbria
Alhred or Alchred was king of Northumbria from 765 to 774. He had married Osgifu, either the daughter of Oswulf, granddaughter of Eadberht Eating, or Eadberht's daughter, and was thus related by marriage to Ecgbert, Archbishop of York...
and sent the ex-king into exile with the Picts
Picts
The Picts were a group of Late Iron Age and Early Mediaeval people living in what is now eastern and northern Scotland. There is an association with the distribution of brochs, place names beginning 'Pit-', for instance Pitlochry, and Pictish stones. They are recorded from before the Roman conquest...
. The cause of the deposition may have been related to the missionary work. The historian D. P. Kirby feels that Æthelbert was not a supporter of Alhred prior to his deposition. Alhred was replaced with Æthelred
Æthelred I of Northumbria
Æthelred was king of Northumbria from 774 to 779 and again from 788 or 789 until his murder in 796. He became king after Alhred was deposed...
, who was replaced in 778 by Ælfwald
Ælfwald I of Northumbria
Ælfwald was king of Northumbria from 778 to 788. He is thought to have been a son of Oswulf, and thus a grandson of Eadberht Eating.Ælfwald became king after Æthelred son of Æthelwald Moll was deposed in 778...
, the son of Oswulf. Kirby sees Æthelbert's withdrawal of support as instrumental in the deposition of Aethelred, noting that Aelfwald was closely related to Ethelbert, unlike both Alhred and Aethelred. Kirby also notes that medieval chroniclers noted that Ethelbert is said to have not "spared evil kings".
In 780 Æthelbert consecrated Eanbald as his coadjutor bishop and committed to Alcuin the care of the school and library and retired to a cell where he spent some time in devotion. He lived long enough to consecrate the new cathedral, ten days before his death on 8 November. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a collection of annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The original manuscript of the Chronicle was created late in the 9th century, probably in Wessex, during the reign of Alfred the Great...
, however, gives the year of his death at 781.