Hrabanus Maurus

HRABANUS MAURUS (Rabanus/Rhabanus). b. Mainz, ca. 780; d. Winkel, 4 Feb 856. Educated at Fulda, and subsequently at St Martin’s, Tours (under Alcuin of York*), Hrabanus became a prominent Frankish churchman. He was ordained deacon in 801 and priest in 814. He became abbot at Fulda (822-42) and archbishop of Mainz (847-56); died at Winkel on the Rhine. Hrabanus wrote several biblical commentaries as well as homilies and treatises on a wide range of subjects. He was involved in the controversy over his former student Gottschalk*’s heretical belief in predestination to condemnation as well as to salvation. Hrabanus is credited with the composition of several hymn texts; most of these...