ALCUDIA, :MANUEL DE CrODOY.
See COD0y, MANUEL, DUKE OF ALCUDIA.
ALCUIN, 51'kwin, or FLACCITS ALBINTJS (v. 735-SO4). The most distinguished scholar of the eighth century, the confidant and adviser of Charlemagne. He was born at York, was edu cated under the care of Archbishop Ecbert, and his relative, .:Elbert, and succeeded the latter as master of the school of York. Charlemagne became acquainted with him at Parma, as he was returning from home, whither he had gone to bring home the pallium for a friend. He invited Aleuin to his court, and had his assist ance in his endeavors to civilize his subjects. As a result of this association, Alcuin became the preceptor of the Emperor, whom he instructed in various subjects, especially rhetoric and dia lectics. To render his instruction more available, Charlemagne established at his court a school called Schola Pnlatina, the superintendence of which, as well as of several monasteries, was committed to Aleuiu. In the learned society of the court, Alcuin went by the name of Flaccus Albinus. Many of the schools in France were
either founded or improved by him. He retired to the abbey of St. Martin. in Tours, in 796. and taking as his model the school of York, taught at Tours. While there he wrote frequently to the Emperor. lie died Slay 19, 804. Ile left, be sides numerous theological writings, a number of works on philosophy, mathematics, rhetoric, and philology, as well as poems and a great num ber of letters. His letters, while they betray the uncultivated character of the age generally, show Alcuin to have been the most accomplished man of his time. He understood Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Editions of his works appeared in 1617 (Paris), 1777 ( Ratisbon), and in Migne's Pat•ologia. Consult : Monnier, Afruin et Char lemagne (Paris, 1864) ; Mullinger, Schools of Charles the Great (London, 1877), and \Vest, Aleuin a2ul the Rise of Christian Schools (New York. 1892).