SYLVESTER II

born c. 945, , near Aurillac, Auvergne, Fr. died May 12, 1003, Rome original name Gerbert Of Aurillac French head of the Roman Catholic church (9991003), renowned for his scholarly achievements, his advances in education, and his shrewd political judgment. Additional reading Richer, Histoire de France (888995), ed. and trans. into French by Robert Latouche (1937), by Gerbert's pupil, is basic and accurate but with omissions; it ends in 998. Editions of Sylvester's works include Alexandre Olleris, Oeuvres de Gerbert (1867), with an extensive biography; Julien Havet, Lettres de Gerbert (1889), critical edition, superseding previous editions; and Harriet Lattin, The Letters of Gerbert, with His Papal Privileges As Sylvester II (Eng. trans. 1961), based on manuscripts and the Havet edition of lettersdates letters and privileges, lists Sylvester II's non-extant and spurious documents, and contains an extensive bibliography. La Salle de Rochemaure, Gerbert Silvestre II (1914), is the best biography to date (illustrated); see also Oscar G. Darlington, Gerbert, the Teacher, Am. Hist. Rev., 52:456467 (1947), which emphasizes practical aspects but misunderstands Gerbert's astronomical instruments; Harriet Lattin, The Peasant Boy Who Became Pope (1958), thoroughly researched and illustrated but slightly fictionalized; and E.R. Chamberlin, Pope Silvester II, 9991003, History Today, 19:115121 (1969), based on old scholarship.