Aimoin (Aimoinus, Aymoinus) of Saint-Germain

AIMOIN (Aimoinus, Aymoinus) of Saint-Germain. - Monk in the Parisian monastery of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, often confused with Aimoinus of Fleury. A monk before 845, he directed the school and was chancellor of the monastery around 872. He was the teacher of Abbo of St. Germain, who praises him. He died on 9 June, after 896.

Several hagiographical writings by him survive, important especially for the history of the relics of saints: Miracula s. Germani: PL 126, 1027-50, a short work in two books, written after 894, making use of two earlier versions, the first of which was published in 1883, from a manuscript of Namur, in vol. II of the Analecta Boll., pp. 69-98: it is interesting for the history of the Norman invasions (years 846 and 857); Historia Inventionis sive Translationis b. Vincentii, levitae et martyris, ex Hispania in Castrense Galliae monasterium (year 855), dedicated to Berno, abbot of Castres (Albi): two books in prose, and a summarizing short poem in 60 verses (PL 126, 1011-28); useful for the history of Septimania; De Translatione s. Martyrum Georgii monachi, Aurelii et Nathaliae (year 858) from Cordoba to Paris (PL 115, 939-60), written after 869; useful for the history of Septimania and of Burgundy. According to Martène and Durand, A. would also be the author of the Translatio s. Savini martyris: PL 126, 1049-56, but Molinier attributes it to an anonymous author of the 11th century.

A.'s style, though sometimes affected and obscure, is free from the barbarisms of the time. His pious Translationes are attractive, accounts of the adventurous journeys of those daring monks, who went in search of relics in Muslim Spain.