Gerbert of Aurillac, later known as pope Silvester II, (or Sylvester II), (ca. 950 – May 12, 1003) was a prolific scholar of the 10th century. He introduced arabic knowledge of arithmetics and astronomy to Europe. He was the first french pope, reigning from 999 until his death in 1003.

Life

Gerbert was born in about 950 in the Auvergne region of France. Around 963, he entered the monastery of St. Gerald at Aurillac. In 967, Count Borrell of Barcelona visited the monastery, and the abbot asked the count to take Gerbert with him so that the lad could study mathematics in Spain. In the following years, Gerbert studied in the Christian-held city of Barcelona and possibly in the Islamic cities of Córdoba and Seville.

In 969, Count Borrell made a pilgrimage to Rome, taking Gerbert with him. Gerbert there met pope John XIII and the emperor Otto I. The pope persuaded Otto to employ Gerbert on as tutor for his young son, the future emperor Otto II. Some years later, Otto gave Gerbert leave to go to study at the cathedral school of Reims where he was soon appointed a teacher in the cathedral school by Archbishop Adalbero .

When Otto II became Holy Roman Emperor in 983, he appointed Gerbert the abbot of the monastery of Bobbio and also appointed him as count of the district, but the abbey had been ruined by previous abbots, and Gerbert soon returned to Reims.

After the death of Otto II in 984, Gerhard became involved in the politics of his time. In 985, with the support of his archbishop, he opposed Lothair of France's attempt to take the Lorraine from Otto III by supporting Hugh Capet. Capet became king of France, ending the Carolingian line of kings.

Adalbero died in 988. Gerhard was a natural candidate for his succession, but Hugh Capet appointed Arnulf, an illegitimate son of Lothair instead. Arnulf was deposed in 991 for alleged treason against the king, and Gerbert was elected his successor. There was so much opposition to Gerbert's elevation to the See of Reims, however, that John XV sent a legate to France who temporarily suspended Gerbert from his episcopal office. Gerbert sought to show that this decree was unlawful, but a further synod in 995 declared Arnulf's deposition invalid.

Gerbert now became the teacher of Otto III, and Pope Gregory V, Otto’s cousin, appointed him Archbishop of Ravenna in 998. The emperor elected him to succeed Gregory as pope in 999. Gerbert took the name Sylvester II (alluding to Sylvester I, the advisor of the Constantine the Great). Soon after he was elected pope, Gerbert confirmed the position of his former rival Arnulf as archbishop of Reims.

In 1001, the roman populace revolted against the emperor, forcing Otto and Gerbert to flee to Ravenna. Otto led two unsuccessful expeditions to regain control of the city, and died on a third in 1002. Gerbert returned to Rome soon after Otto's death, although the rebellious nobility remained in power, and died a little later.

Work

Gerbert wrote a series of works, principally dealing with matters of the quadrivium or philosophy. He had learned the non-zero Arabic digits in Spain, and could do calculations in his head that were extremely difficult for people thinking in terms of the Roman numerals. In Reims, he constructed a hydraulic organ that excelled all previously known instruments, where the air had to be pumped manually. Gerbert reintroduced the abacus into Europe, and in a letter of 984, he asks Lupitus of Barcelona for a translation of an arabic astronomical treatise. Gerbert may have been the author of a description of the astrolabe that was redacted by Hermannus Contractus some 50 years later.

As pope, he took energetic measures against the widespread practices of simony and concubinage among the clergy, maintaining that only capable men of spotless lives should be allowed to become bishop. He wrote a dogmatic treatise, "De corpore et sanguine Domini".

External links

• Catholic Encyclopedia
• Gerbert of Aurillac (ca. 955-1003), lecture by Lynn H. Nelson.

Preceded by Gregory V

Pope (list)

Succeeded by John XVII