ANGILBERTO, saint. — Abbot of Centula (Saint-Riquier), one of Charlemagne’s principal assistants and confidants, and a disciple of Alcuin. Of noble origin, born around 750 and died on 18 February 814, he was educated at the court of Pippin the Short, where he formed a friendship with Charles that lasted until his death.
In 781 the latter appointed him Primicerius Palatii and assigned him to the person of his son Pippin, crowned king of Italy while still a child. From 787 onward he lived continually at the court of the Frankish king where, as a member of the Palatine Academy created by Alcuin, he distinguished himself through his poetic activity, which earned him the appellation of Homer. His relationship with Alcuin is well known, and his name is bound up with Alcuin’s history. Leading a highly worldly life, he had two sons by Berta, Charlemagne’s daughter: Nihard and Harnid. Having received the wealthy abbey of Centula in commendam around 790, he used it as a source of income. Charlemagne subsequently entrusted him with three diplomatic missions to the Pope: in 792, to bring the Adoptionist Felice of Urgel to Rome; in 794, to submit the Libri Carolini to his judgment; and in 796, to offer the new Pope Leo III a tribute of obedience. It was after this third mission that he withdrew from the worldly life of the court in order to devote himself to his true monastic duties. He then received priestly ordination; under his governance Centula expanded in its possessions and internal organization. He himself set the example of an austere and mortified life. In 811 he was one of the signatories of Charlemagne’s will. His feast is celebrated on 18 February.
In addition to poems, he wrote a Libellus de perfectione et dedicatione Centulensis ecclesiae and De diversitate officiorum (in MGH, Poetus Carolini: Aevi, ed. Dummer, I, pp. 355–81; MGH, Scriptores, XV, pp. 173–90).
BIBLI: F. Lot, Harimfe, Chronique de l'Abbaye de Saint-Riquier, Parigi 1894 (the principal work on the subject); W. Wattenbach, Deutschlands Geschichtsquellen im Mittelalter, I, 2ª ed., Stoccarda 1904, pp. 101–98; M. Manitius, Gesch. der lat. Liter. des Mittelalters, I, Monaco 1911, pp. 543–47. Mario Scaduto