Ratgar was a controversial abbot at the famous Benedictine monastery of
Fulda
Fulda () (historically in English called Fuld) is a city in Hesse, Germany; it is located on the river Fulda and is the administrative seat of the Fulda district (''Kreis''). In 1990, the city hosted the 30th Hessentag state festival.
Histor ...
during the early ninth century.
Life
Ratgar was abbot of the
monastery of Fulda
The Abbey of Fulda (; ), from 1221 the Princely Abbey of Fulda () and from 1752 the Prince-Bishopric of Fulda (), was a Benedictine abbey and ecclesiastical principality centered on Fulda, in the present-day German state of Hesse.
The monastery ...
from 802 until 817.
He was from a noble family in Germania, and was sent by his parents to Fulda, whose monastery school was already becoming a renowned center of learning.
[Hraban Maur in ''Monum. German. Histor.: Poetaes Latini Aevi Carolingi''II, poem 13.] which was at the time ruled by
Saint Sturm
Sturm ( – 17 December 779), also called Sturmius or Sturmi, was a disciple of Boniface and founder and first abbot of the Benedictine monastery and abbey of Fulda in 742 or 744. Sturm's tenure as abbot lasted from 747 until 779.
Life
Sturm w ...
, a disciple of
Saint Boniface
Boniface, OSB (born Wynfreth; 675 –5 June 754) was an English Benedictines, Benedictine monk and leading figure in the Anglo-Saxon mission to the Germanic parts of Francia during the eighth century. He organised significant foundations of ...
. Sturm died in 779 and
Baugulf
Baugulf (died 8 July 815) was a prominent Benedictine abbot in the Carolingian church. He was the second abbot of the Abbey of Fulda in present-day Germany. He served from 779 to 802 CE and was succeeded by Ratgar.
Despite his contemporary prom ...
succeeded him as abbot, ruling until his retirement in 802,
[''Annales Fuldenses'' in ''"Monum. German. Histor.: Scriptores 1'', p. 353.] when he was succeeded by Ratgar.
The sources on Ratgar's abbacy provide conflicting pictures of his rule. The future abbot of Fulda,
Hraban Maur
Rabanus Maurus Magnentius ( 780 – 4 February 856), also known as Hrabanus or Rhabanus, was a Franks, Frankish Benedictine monk, theologian, poet, encyclopedist and military writer who became archbishop of Mainz in East Francia. He was the autho ...
, writes of Ratgar in several poems. In one he praises the grand building projects Ratgar undertook, calling him a "wise architect."
The great Basilica, dedicated by Archbishop Haistolf in 819, was undertaken during his reign.
Ratgar also showed concern for the education of the young monks in his care, sending them to study with the leading scholars of the day. He sent Hraban Maur (future abbot, archbishop and leading theologian) and Hatto to Tours to study the liberal arts with
Alcuin
Alcuin of York (; ; 735 – 19 May 804), also called Ealhwine, Alhwin, or Alchoin, was a scholar, clergyman, poet, and teacher from York, Northumbria. He was born around 735 and became the student of Ecgbert of York, Archbishop Ecgbert at Yor ...
, the founding scholar of the Carolingian Renaissance.
[Alcuin, Intercessio Albini Pro Mauro, in Monum. German. Histor.: Poetae Latini II, p. 160.] He sent
Candidus Bruun and Modestus to study with another luminary, Charlemagne's biographer
Einhard
Einhard (also Eginhard or Einhart; ; 775 – 14 March 840) was a Franks, Frankish scholar and courtier. Einhard was a dedicated servant of Charlemagne and his son Louis the Pious; his main work is a biography of Charlemagne, the ''Vita Karoli M ...
, and he sent Candidus and others to
Clemens Scottus
Clement Scotus II (fl. 820) was an Irish grammarian.
Life
Clement Scotus II arrived, according to tradition, from Ireland on the coast of Gaul, with another Irish scholar, around the time when Charlemagne began his sole rule (i.e. after the death ...
, one of the many renowned Irish scholars living on the continent.
[Introduction to Candidus' Life of Eigil, Patrologia Latina 105, col. 383]
/ref>
On the other hand, it seems he was excessively severe on his monks. Hraban Maur, in another poem, recounts that a number of monks seceded from Ratgar's Rule.[''Hraban Maur in ''Monum. German. Histor.: Poetaes Latini Aevi Carolingi''II, poem 30.''] The ''Saxon Chronicle'' recounts that, in 811, there was a great disturbance among the monks at Fulda, and other contemporary chronicles also mention chaos and dissent among the brothers, noting that a delegation of 12 monks made a plea before Charlemagne
Charlemagne ( ; 2 April 748 – 28 January 814) was List of Frankish kings, King of the Franks from 768, List of kings of the Lombards, King of the Lombards from 774, and Holy Roman Emperor, Emperor of what is now known as the Carolingian ...
for him to reform the monastery.[Candidus Bruun, ''Vita Aeigili,'' in E. Duemmeler, ed. ''Monum. German. Histor.: Poetae Latini Aevi Carolini'' II (Berlin, 1884), pp. 94-117.] He nicknames Ratgar "monoceros", meaning "unicorn" (the unicorn was considered a violent and dangerous beast), and depicts an abbey divided by dissent.[''Annales Fuldenses'' in ''Monum. German. Histor.: Scriptores 1'', p. 356.] and the Emperor Louis the Pious
Louis the Pious (; ; ; 16 April 778 – 20 June 840), also called the Fair and the Debonaire, was King of the Franks and Holy Roman Emperor, co-emperor with his father, Charlemagne, from 813. He was also King of Aquitaine from 781. As the only ...
had him deposed and banished.
See also
* Raban Maur
* Candidus Bruun of Fulda
* Sturm of Fulda
References
Bibliography
* Candidus Bruun. ''Vita Aeigili,'' liber II (= vita metrica). In E. Duemmeler, ed. ''Monum. German. Histor.: Poetae Latini Aevi Carolini'' Vol. II. Berlin, 1884, pp. 94–117.
* Rudolf of Fulda. ''Miracula sanctorum in Fuldenses ecclesias translatorum.'' G. Waitz (Ed.) ''Monum. German. Histor.: Scriptore'' 15.1, pp. 328–41.
External links
Candidus' Life of Eigil in verse and prose, featuring negative account of Ratgar's Rule
article at New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ratgar
8th-century births
9th-century deaths
Year of birth unknown
Year of death unknown
Abbots of Fulda