AUGUSTE, ou-gaete, VICTORIA (1858—). German Empress and Queen of Prussia. She was born at the castle of Dolzig, the eldest daughter of Frederick, Duke of Schleswig-11ot stein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg, and of Princess Adelheid of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. She was married to Prince William of Prussia—after wards William 11. of Germany—February 27, 1881. She is a patroness of charitable enterprises, and has published a book entitled Erisserungsoltittcr as die Puliistinafahrt (1898), which contains a record of her memorable jour ney through Palestine in company with Emperor William in 1898.
AU'GUSTINE--often called AUSTIN—SAINT ( ?-(304). First archbishop of Canterbury. He was originally a monk in the convent of Saint Andrew at Rome. and became its prior. In 596 he was sent, along with other monks, by Pope Gregory I.. to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity, and establish the authority of the Roman see in Britain. They got as far as Aix in Provence. and there, terrified by the reports they heard about the wildness of the Britons, desired to turn back, and dispatched Augustine to Rome for permission to do so: but Gregory sent him with a firm but kindly letter to rejoin his eompany, and ordered them to continue on their journey. At the same time he wrote to the Frankish clergy and rulers to share in the enterprise. So, in the spring of 597, Augustine and about forty companions. in cluding Franks, landed on the Island of Thanet, in the extreme southeast of England, but at which point is uncertain. The missionaries were kindly received by Ethelbert, King of Kent, whose wife, Bertha, daughter of Charibert, King of Paris, was a Christian. and had Liudhard. Bishop of Senlis, in her suite as chaplain. A residence was assigned to them at Canterbury. then called Durovernmn, where they devoted themselves to monastic exercises and preaching. The conversion and baptism (Whitsunday, June 2, 597) of the King contributed greatly to the success of their efforts among his subjects. There is abundant
testimony to the fact that a marked improve ment in the life and manners of the Anglo Saxons followed the evangelistic labors of Augus tine and his companions.
In 597 he went to Arles. by direction of the Pope, and was there consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury and Metropolitan of England. On his return. he dispatched a presbyter and a monk to Rome to inform the Pope of his success, and obtain instruction on certain questions. Greg ory's directions with regard to the propagation of the faith are admirable. Thus, instead of de stroying the heathen temples. Augustine was recommended to convert them into Christian churches. by washing the walls with holy water. erecting altars, and substituting holy relies and symbols for the images of the heathen gods.
Augustine's subsequent efforts to establish his authority over the native British Church were not so successful as his missionary labors. owing apparently to his lack of tact. lle died in Canterbury, May 20, 004. Ilis body was re moved to the Cathedral of Canterbury in 1091. Bede's Historic: Ecclesiastic?: Gentis .Inglorum is the great authority fur the life of Saint Augus tine. Consult all the documents, in Latin and English, in A. J. Mason, The 11i:orlon of Saint Augustine to England (Cambridge, 1897). The celebration of the 1300th anniversary of Augus tine's landing brought out in London in 1897 several volumes upon him—e.g. by E. W. Ben son. Father Brou, S..J., C. F. Browne, \V. E. Collins. Consult also, J. A. Cooke, Early Churches in Great Britain Prior to the Coming of .Ingustine (London, 1897).
The site and remains of Saint Augustine's monastery were purchased in 1S44 by Mr. Beres ford Hope, by whom they were presented to the Archbishop of Canterbury in trust, for the erec tion of Saint Augustine's Missionary College, at Canterbury. in connection with the Church of England. This institution was incorporated by royal charter in 1848.