ALTITIN, or FLACCUS ALBINUS, the most distinguished scholar of the 8th c., the con fidant and adviser of Charlemagne, was b. at York about the year 735. He was edu cated under the care of archbishop Egbert, and his relative, Aelbert, and succeeded the latter as master of the school of York. Charlemagne became acquainted with him at Parma, as he was returning from Rome, whither be had gone to bring home the pallium for a friend; and in the year 782, this monarch invited him to his court, and availed himself of his assistance in his endeavors to civilize his subjects. A. became the precep tor of Charlemagne himself, whom he instructed in the various sciences. To render his instructions more available, Charlemagne established at his court a school called Schola Palatina, the superintendence of which, as well as of several monasteries, was com mitted to him. In the learned society of the court A. went by the name of Flacons Albinus. Most of the schools in France were either founded or improved by him.
Among others, he founded the school in the abbey of St. Martin, in Tours, 796, taking as his model the school of York, and in this school he himself taught after his retire ment from court, 801. While living at Tours, he frequently corresponded with Charle magne. At his death, in 804, he left, besides numerous theological writings, a number of elementary works on philosophy, mathematics, rhetoric, and philology; also poems, and a great number of letters. His letters, while they betray the uncultivated character of the age generally, show A. to have been the most accomplished man of his time. He understood Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Good editions of his works appealed in 1777 and in 1873. See the life of A,- by Lorenz, 1829; 3Ionnier's A. et Charlemagne, 1864; and 3Iullinger's &bode Of larks the Great, 1877.