mheu, Historical Museum of the Urban Environment

Rabanus Maurus

Rabanus Maurus was one of the major figures of the Carolingian Renaissance in the 9th century. A friend of Lothair, one of Charlemagne's grandsons, he was nicknamed "Praeceptor Germaniae" or "the teacher of Germany". His life as chancellor, abbot and then archbishop was devoted to evangelical work and to the training of the clergy for whom he wrote many commentaries on the Bible. He was also the author of a number of books on the cusp of theology and the profane sciences, which was characteristic of the Carolingian spirit. His work included anthologies of poetry, a treatise on ethics and an encyclopaedia, De Universo, compiled between 842 and 847.