ILDUINO, abbot of St-Denis. - Born into a noble family in the second half of the 8th century, died on 22 November 844. He completed his studies under Alcuino and had as a pupil Incarnato of Reims, who remained always devoted to him. From 814-15 he was abbot of St-Denis in Paris and from around 826 he was chaplain to the court of Louis the Pious, accompanying his son Lothar to Rome in 842.
At the Council of Paris in 825 he supported the Eastern legates in the matter of images. He took part in court intrigues, even participating in the conspiracy of Louis’ sons against their father, which took place at Easter 830; as a result, he was exiled to Paderborn and, following the trial of 2 February 831, was stripped of the various offices he held and relegated to New Corbie (Saxony). However, defended by Incarnato, he soon returned to Paris, where around 832 he reformed his monastery and, far from political intrigues, devoted himself to a life of study.
It was during this period that he produced his works: several letters to Louis the Pious; a Libellus passionis in which he endeavours to demonstrate the identity of St Denis the Areopagite with the first bishop of Paris; a life of St Denis, written at the order of Louis the Pious around 834, of which he also made a rhythmic version; particularly important is the Latin translation, albeit very imperfect, of the Corpus Dionysianum, completed between 831 and 834.