born 0441; 740, Aachen, kingdom of the Franks
died Feb. 18, 814, Centula, Picardy
Frankish poet and prelate at the court of Charlemagne .
Of a noble family, he was educated at the palace school at Aachen and was a student of Alcuin . In 800 he accompanied Charlemagne to Rome. He was made lay abbot of Centula (St.-Riquier), Picardy, in 794. His graceful and sophisticated Latin poems offer a picture of life in the imperial circle. Charlemagne's daughter Bertha and Angilbert were the parents of the historian Nithard.