Robert of Chester (

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

: ''Robertus Castrensis'') was an English Arabist of the 12th century. He translated several historically important books from

Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...

, such as: * ''Book on the Composition of Alchemy'' (): translated in 1144, this was the first book on

alchemy Alchemy (from the Arabic word , ) is an ancient branch of natural philosophy, a philosophical and protoscientific tradition that was historically practised in China, India, the Muslim world, and Europe. In its Western form, alchemy is first ...

to become available in EuropeThe Arabic Origin of Liber de compositione alchimiae
*'' Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing'' (): al-Khwārizmī's book about

algebra Algebra is a branch of mathematics that deals with abstract systems, known as algebraic structures, and the manipulation of expressions within those systems. It is a generalization of arithmetic that introduces variables and algebraic ope ...

, translated in 1145 In the 1140s Robert worked in Iberia, where the division of the region between Muslim and Christian rulers resulted in opportunities for interchange between the different cultures. However, by the end of the decade he had returned to England. Some sources identify him with Robert of Ketton () who was also active as an Arabic-Latin translator in the 1140s. However, Ketton and

Chester Chester is a cathedral city in Cheshire, England, on the River Dee, Wales, River Dee, close to the England–Wales border. With a built-up area population of 92,760 in 2021, it is the most populous settlement in the borough of Cheshire West an ...

, while both places in England, are a long way apart. Also, when in Iberia, Robert of Ketton was based in the Kingdom of Navarre, whereas Robert of Chester is known to have worked in

Segovia Segovia ( , , ) is a city in the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. It is the capital and most populated municipality of the Province of Segovia. Segovia is located in the Meseta central, Inner Pl ...

Notes

References

* * Charles Burnett, ‘Ketton, Robert of ( fl. 1141–1157)’,

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography The ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (''DNB'') is a standard work of reference on notable figures from History of the British Isles, British history, published since 1885. The updated ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (''ODNB'') ...

Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is the publishing house of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world. Its first book was printed in Oxford in 1478, with the Press officially granted the legal right to print books ...

, 2004. (This is, in effect, a double biography covering both Robert of Ketton and Robert of Chester.)

External links

complete text online. Translation of Robert of Chester, or Robert of Ketton. __NOTOC__ Arabic–Latin translators Translators from Arabic 12th-century English writers Translators of the Quran into Latin Medieval Arabists Medieval orientalists 12th-century linguists 12th-century English scientists 12th-century translators 12th-century English mathematicians 12th-century writers in Latin {{Sci-hist-stub

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