ANGILBERT, Saint. - Abbot of Centula (Saint-Riquier), one of Charlemagne's principal auxiliaries and confidants and a disciple of Alcuin. Of noble origin, born around 750, died on 18 February 814, he was educated at the court of Pepin the Short, where he entered into a friendship with Charles that was maintained until his death.
In 781 the latter appointed him Primicerius Palatii and attached to the person of his son Pepin, who had been crowned king of Italy while still a child. From 787 he lived always at the court of the Frankish king where, as a member of the palatine Academy created by Alcuin, he made a name for himself through his poetic activity, which earned him the appellation of Homer. His relations with Alcuin are well known, and his name is linked to the latter's history. Of a very worldly life, he had two sons by Bertha, daughter of Charlemagne: Nihard and Harnid. Having received in commendam, around 790, the rich abbey of Centula, he used it as a source of income. Charlemagne subsequently entrusted him with three diplomatic missions to the Pope: in 792 to conduct the adoptionist Felix of Urgel to Rome, in 794 to submit the Libri Carolini to his judgment, in 796 to pay homage of obedience to the new pope Leo III. It was after this third mission that he withdrew from the worldly life of the court to devote himself to his true monastic duties. He then received the priesthood; under his governance Centula developed in its properties and internal constitution. He himself set the example of an austere and mortified life. In 811 he was one of the signatories of Charlemagne's testament. His feast is celebrated on 18 February.
Besides his poems, he wrote a Libellus de perfectione et dedicatione Centulensis ecclesiae and De diversitate officiorum (in MGH, Poetae Carolini Aevi, ed. Dümmler, I, pp. 355-81; MGH, Scriptores, XV, pp. 173-90).
Bibliography3 works
Mario Scaduto