GERBERT, afterwards Pope Sylvester IL, was born of poor parents at Aurillae in Auvergne. -The time of his birth does not appear to be known; he died in 1003, at a very advanced age.
When young he entered the monastery of St. Gerauld at Aurillac, and in that school commenced his studies. He afterwards visited Catalonia. where he learned mathematics from a Spanish bishop, Atsiut 963 he made a journey to Rome, a circumstance which gave him the opportunity of still further satisfying his thirst for knowledge When Otho I. conferred on him the abbey of Bobbie, Gerbert's judos try was not diminished by his promotion. He employed hirosell actively in teaching, and for several years, while lie coutinued to reside at Bobbie, his fame attracted students from all quarters. Though hi kept his abbey till his elevation to the pontifical chair lie gave up his residence in Italy on account of the uneasy life which be led there From Italy he is said to have gone to Germany, where he became the tutor of young Otho, afterwards the eecond emperor of that name From Germany he went to Rheims, and was made secretary to the Archbishop of Rheims, and master of the cathedral school. It is as teacher that Gerbert established a reputation which few men since hi time lime acquired. Under his care the school of Rheims became one of the first in Europe, and its high character was maintained for nearly a century after his death. Among Gerbert'e pupils we find the
names of Nithard and Remi. In 992 Uerbert was promoted to tie archbishopric of Rheims, from which however he was deposed a fey years after his elevation. In 993 he received the archbishopric o Ravenna from the emperor Otho III.; and in 999 he was elected is the pontifical chair, which he filled for nearly five years, under th, name of Sylvester II.
There is no doubt that Gerbert was a man of great ability and o very extensive acquirements for his age. He was also a most vole minoua writer. The Benedictines of St. Maur (' Histoire Littdrair do la France,' tom. vi., 577, &c.) have devoted many pages to the cot sideration of his writings; but they have shown no great discrimi nation in their criticism. Geometry and astronomy were Gerbert' favourite pursuits; there is (or was) sextant a manuscript treatise c his on sun-dials, and he also wrote on the astrolabe. He is said t have been acquainted with the Greek language. His letters, printe by Du Cheene, 163t3, at the end of the second volume of his 'Historian of France,' throw some light on the ecclesiastical intrigues and politics events of the time.