EGINO da VERONA. — He probably descended from a noble family that was related to the Alabolfinger dukes; he was educated in the monastery of Reichenau, where he received an excellent cultural formation.
He was in the service of Charlemagne, who appointed him bishop of Verona in 772, so that he might help strengthen Carolingian rule in northern Italy. E. achieved not only political successes but also promoted the interests and good governance of the diocese. After many years of government, he returned to Reichenau to join the abbot Valdo, his friend, and there, ca. 769, founded Niederzell, a church dedicated to ss. Peter and Paul. He had left Ratoldo in Verona as vicar of the diocese, perhaps his nephew, formerly chief cagogliano of the court of Pipino. He died at Reichenau on 27 February 802, as attested by the chronicle of Ermanno Contratto.
Of literary interest, E. left a precious collection of homilies by the Fathers of the Church, especially Agostino to Leone, as well as many others of lesser importance. The collection belongs to the group of the ancient sermonaries of the Roman type, such as that of Alano di Farfa and that of S. Pietro in Vaticano, later superseded by that of Paolo Diacono.