Ethelbert of York

Infobox Archbishop of York
name = Ethelbert


birth_name =
began = unknown
consecration = 24 April 767
term_end = 8 November 780
predecessor = Ecgbert
successor = Eanbald I
birth_date = "unknown"
death_date = 8 November 780
tomb =

Ethelbert (or Æthelbeorht, Aethelberht, Adalberht, Ælberht, Aelberht, Aldbert or Æthelbert) (died 8 November, 780) was an eighth century scholar, teacher, priest and Archbishop of York.

Life

Ethelbert, was the teacher and intimate friend of Alcuin, whose poem on the saints and prelates of the Church of York, "De Sanctis et Pontificibus Ecclesiæ Eboracensis", is the principal source of information concerning Ethelbert's life.Rollason "Ælberht (d. 779/80)" "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography" [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/49425 Online Edition] accessed 9 November 2007] He was a kinsman of his predecessor Archbishop Egbert, brother to Eadberht, King of Northumbria and a pupil in the school founded at York by Egbert, who ordained him priest and made him master of the school.Duckett "Alcuin" p. 19-22] Alcuin's affectionate eulogy, praised his erudition in grammar, rhetoric, law, poetry, astronomy, natural history, and Scripture, and his stern but supportive nature.

Ethelbert loved books ardently and spared no pains in forming a library at York,Hindley "A Brief History of the Anglo-Saxons" p. 152] which was probably the largest contemporary collection of books to be found in Europe outside of Rome. Alcuin mentions several Latin and Greek classical authors, as well as the Fathers and other Christian writers that formed the 8th century canon. Ethelbert, in his search for books, travelled far, and we know that he visited Rome among other places. He taught both the trivium as well as the quadrivium, plus how to figure the dates of church festivals and natural science.

In 766 Ethelbert succeeded Egbert as Archbishop; he was consecrated 24 April 767,Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 224] and received the pallium from Pope Adrian I in 773. As archbishop he continued his simple and laborious life, working with such success that he is regarded as one of the founders of the diocese of York.

He set himself to rebuild the York Minster, which had been destroyed by fire in 741, employing Eanbald and Alcuin to oversee the work.Duckett "Alcuin" p. 27] Alcuin speaks of its magnificence, its columns and crypts, bright windows and ceilings, the tall crucifix of precious metals, the thirty altars it contained, and the gold, silver, and jewels employed in the decoration of sacred vessels and altars.

From the center of learning at York, Ethelbert sent out preachers and evangelizing teachers among the pagans of Northern Europe: Willibrord as a missionary to the Frisians and Saxons, and Alubert and Liudger, the Apostles of North Germany.Duckett "Alcuin" p. 31]

In 774, Ethelbert called a council which deposed Alhred, king of Northumbria and sent the ex-king into exile with the Picts. The cause of the deposition may have been related to the missionary work.Ashely "Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens" p. 291-292] The historian D. P. Kirby feels that Ethelbert was not a supporter of Alhred prior to his deposition. Alhred was replaced with Æthelred, who was replaced in 778 by Ælfwald, the son of Oswulf. Kirby sees Ethelbert's withdrawal of support as instrumental in the deposition of Aethelred, noting that Aelfwald was closely related to Ethelbert, unlike both Alhred and Aethelred.Kirby "Earliest English Kings" pp. 127-129] Kirby also notes that medieval chroniclers noted that Ethelbert is said to have not "spared evil kings".Kirby "Earliest English Kings" p. 128]

In 780 Ethelbert consecrated Eanbald as his coadjutor bishop and committed to Alcuin the care of the school and library and retired to a cell where he spent some time in devotion.Duckett "Alcuin" p. 32] He lived long enough to consecrate the new cathedral, ten days before his death on 8 November.Duckett "Alcuin" p. 34] The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, however, gives the year of his death at 781.

Notes

References

* Ashely, Mike "The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens" New York: Carroll & Graff 1998 ISBN 0-7967-0692-9
* Duckett, Eleanor Shipley "Alcuin, Friend of Charlemagne: His World and His Work" New York:MacMillan 1951
*
* Hindley, Geoffrey "A Brief History of the Anglo-Saxons: The beginnings of the English nation" New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers 2006 ISBN 978-0-78671738-5
*
* Rollason, David "Ælberht (d. 779/80)" "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography" Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/49425 Online Edition] accessed 9 November 2007

External links

* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05554a.htm "Catholic Encyclopedia":] Ethelbert of York
* [http://utenti.lycos.it/thefirstknight/776-99.html "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" 776 - 799]
* [http://www.pase.ac.uk/pase/apps/persons/CreatePersonFrames.jsp?personKey=10874 Prosopography of Anglo Saxon England entry for Æthelberht]

Persondata
NAME=Ethelbert
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Æthelbeorht; Adalberht; Aelberht; Aldbert; Ælberht; Æthelbert
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Archbishop of York
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=8 November, 780