BERTARIO di MONTECASSINO, saint. — He is one of the most notable figures in Italy during the Carolingian age. Probably of Lombard stock—Berthari is the original form of the name—he was educated at Montecassino under Bassacius, whom he succeeded in the abbatial see in 856 (according to Traube, as early as 848). In his administration he aimed to oppose the threatening advance of the Saracens and to establish a firm organization for the important patrimony of St Benedict, in accordance with the character of the times and political necessities. In pursuit of the first aim he soon lent effective assistance to the efforts of Louis II, whom he received splendidly at Montecassino on several occasions together with the empress Angelberga, and likewise received there in conference Pope Adrian II and King Lothair. He proposed a federation among the various political centers of southern Italy. Owing to divergent political assessments, probably concerning the duchy of Naples and some action of Adrian II, B. sometimes found himself in conflict with John VIII. From him, however, he obtained an extensive diploma of exemption that constituted almost the crowning achievement of his other aim: the vast work of reorganization, of which the imposing fortifications and extensive land-reclamation projects were the chief manifestations, culminating in the foundation, at the foot of the mountain, of the new city, Eulogimenopolis, modern Cassino. But the opposing forces ultimately prevailed and swept B. and his work away. After destroying the upper monastery on 4 September 883, the Saracens descended upon that of S. Salvatore at the foot of the mountain, where they slaughtered B. together with many monks (22 October 883).
B. “was a complete man.” His political and organizational work was indeed accompanied by notable artistic and cultural activity. Buildings, paintings, and transcriptions of codices with bindings adorned with gold and precious stones are attributed to him by the historical sources. And while he did not hesitate to take the field personally against the enemies of the Christian name, he devoted himself to medicine, grammar, and verse, leaving works that have survived in part to the present day.