SYLVES'TER. The name of two popes. SYLVESTER I., Pope 314-335. His reign was the first in the new period of Church freedom under Constantine. In Ills pontificate the Council of Niewa was held, which he did not himself at tend, but sent two legates to represent him. Numerous unhistorical legends, especially concern ing his relations to Constantine, have clustered about him; concerning them, consult 1331 linger, Fables Respecting the Popes in the ll aline A ges (Eng. trans., New York. 1872) ; and see DONATION OF CON STAN TINE. His works are in Migne, Putroloyw Latina, Viii.—SYLVESTER II., Pope 999-1003, Gerbert by name. Ile was born at Aurillac, in Auvergne, about 935, and at an early age went to Spain, where he made re markable progress in scientific studies. He be came head of the cathedral school at Rheims, which grew to eminence under his direction. In 982 he was made Abbot of Bobbio on the nomina tion of litho 11., but returned to Rheims, of which, by Hugh Capers wish, he was chosen Archbishop in 991. Four years later, the deposi tion of his predecessor having been declared in valid, he went to Magdeburg on Otho 111.'s in vitation, and accompanied him to where he remained, becoming- Archbishop of Ravenna in 998, and reaching the Papal throne in the follow ing year. He was a strict reformer, and ac
quired the reputation of the most learned man of his age; he was an adept in mathematics, and in practical mechanics and astronomy, in which his attainments were so amazing to his contem poraries as to arouse a suspicion that he was in league with the devil. The Gubar numerals, the ancestors of our modern numerals and due to the Western Arabs, owe much of their prominence. if not their introduction into Europe, to Sylvester. His writings are reprinted in Nigne, Patrologia Latina, exxxix.; also by 011eris (Paris, 1867) ; his letters, which throw much light upon an obscure period, have been translated into French (Riom, 1847). Consult studies of his life and times by Hock (Vienna, 1837), Axinger (Paris. 1842). Tappe (Berlin, 1869), and Schul tess (Hamburg, 1891) ; also Schultess. Die Sullen -fiber Sitecster II. (ib.. 1893), and the book of D611inger referred to above.—The name was also borne by two autipopes, SYLVESTER III., who con tested the Papal throne with Benedict IX. in 1044, and SYLVESTER IV., who was put np by the Imperial party to oppose Paschal II. in 1105.