Notker of Liège
Encyclopedia
Notker of Liège (940 – 10 April 1008) was a Benedictine
monk, bishop
(972–1008) and first prince-bishop
(980–1008) of the Bishopric of Liège
with a capital Liège/Lüttich, (now in Belgium
).
Notger was born about 940 and probably belonged to a noble Swabia
n family. He is mentioned in the Annales Hildesheimenses as Provost
of Saint Gall
in Switzerland, but he is not mentioned by the otherwise prolix historians of St. Gall
. In 969 he was appointed imperial chaplain in Italy
, and in 972 he was nominated by Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor
as bishop of Liège, a suffragan of the Archbishop of Cologne
.
When he received in 980 the countship of Huy, he obtained simultaneously secular power for the see and thus became the first prince-bishop of Liège. After receiving secular power from Otto II, Notger transform the episcopal city into the capital of an ecclesiastical principality in the Holy Roman Empire
. He built a new cathedral
, the Saint Lambert Cathedral
, seven collegiate church
es, including St. John's in Liège, after the model of the Aachen cathedral
, two abbey
s and a city wall.
He laid the foundation of the fame of the Liège Schools, to which studious youths soon flocked from all Christendom. By procuring the services of Leo the Calabrian and thus making possible the study of Greek, Notker gave notable extension to the Liège curriculum. Among Notker's pupils, who extended the influence of the Liège schools to ever wider circles, may be mentioned Hubald, Wazo of Liège
, Franco, who also taught at Liége, Gunther of Salzburg, Ruthard of Mainz
and Erlwin of Cambrai, Heimo of Verdun, Hesselo of Toul, Heriger of Lobbes
, Adelmann
(who later studied under Fulbert
at Chartres
), Gozechin who taught at Mainz and Adalbald of Utrecht. In Folcwin's opinion Notker's achievements surpass those of any of his predecessors. He developed the urban structure of the city, its fortifications, commerce and education. Under his rule, the city of Liège was sometimes called the Northern Athens.
Praiseworthy also were his services as a politician under Otto II
and Henry II
. He traveled to Rome for the coronation of Otto II by Pope Gregory V
, and later negotiated a peace treaty between Henry II and Robert, the king of France. He adhered faithfully to the cause of the emperor Otto III
, whom he accompanied to Rome. It was also he who brought back his corpse to Germany and prayed at his funeral in 1002.
The Gesta episcoporum Leodiensium have been frequently wrongly attributed to him, although he merely suggested its composition, and lent the work his name to secure it greater authority.
Johannes Fried
considers Notger von Lüttich, not John Canaparius
, as the author of Vita sancti Adalberti episcopi Pragensis on Adalbert of Prague
, written around 1000, which for the first time mentions Danzig/Gdansk as "urbs Gyddanyzc".
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monk, bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
(972–1008) and first prince-bishop
Prince-Bishop
A Prince-Bishop is a bishop who is a territorial Prince of the Church on account of one or more secular principalities, usually pre-existent titles of nobility held concurrently with their inherent clerical office...
(980–1008) of the Bishopric of Liège
Bishopric of Liège
The Bishopric of Liège or Prince-Bishopric of Liège was a state of the Holy Roman Empire in the Low Countries in present Belgium. It acquired its status as a prince-bishopric between 980 and 985 when Bishop Notger, who had been the bishop of Liege since 972, acquired the status of Prince-Bishop...
with a capital Liège/Lüttich, (now in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
).
Notger was born about 940 and probably belonged to a noble Swabia
Swabia
Swabia is a cultural, historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany.-Geography:Like many cultural regions of Europe, Swabia's borders are not clearly defined...
n family. He is mentioned in the Annales Hildesheimenses as Provost
Provost (religion)
A provost is a senior official in a number of Christian churches.-Historical Development:The word praepositus was originally applied to any ecclesiastical ruler or dignitary...
of Saint Gall
Abbey of St. Gall
The Abbey of Saint Gall is a religious complex in the city of St. Gallen in present-day Switzerland. The Carolingian-era Abbey has existed since 719 and became an independent principality during the 13th century, and was for many centuries one of the chief Benedictine abbeys in Europe. It was...
in Switzerland, but he is not mentioned by the otherwise prolix historians of St. Gall
Abbey of St. Gall
The Abbey of Saint Gall is a religious complex in the city of St. Gallen in present-day Switzerland. The Carolingian-era Abbey has existed since 719 and became an independent principality during the 13th century, and was for many centuries one of the chief Benedictine abbeys in Europe. It was...
. In 969 he was appointed imperial chaplain in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and in 972 he was nominated by Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor
Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor
Otto I the Great , son of Henry I the Fowler and Matilda of Ringelheim, was Duke of Saxony, King of Germany, King of Italy, and "the first of the Germans to be called the emperor of Italy" according to Arnulf of Milan...
as bishop of Liège, a suffragan of the Archbishop of Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
.
When he received in 980 the countship of Huy, he obtained simultaneously secular power for the see and thus became the first prince-bishop of Liège. After receiving secular power from Otto II, Notger transform the episcopal city into the capital of an ecclesiastical principality in the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
. He built a new cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
, the Saint Lambert Cathedral
St. Lambert's Cathedral, Liège
St. Lambert's Cathedral, Liège was the cathedral of Liège, Belgium, until 1794, when its destruction began...
, seven collegiate church
Collegiate church
In Christianity, a collegiate church is a church where the daily office of worship is maintained by a college of canons; a non-monastic, or "secular" community of clergy, organised as a self-governing corporate body, which may be presided over by a dean or provost...
es, including St. John's in Liège, after the model of the Aachen cathedral
Aachen Cathedral
Aachen Cathedral, frequently referred to as the "Imperial Cathedral" , is a Roman Catholic church in Aachen, Germany. The church is the oldest cathedral in northern Europe and was known as the "Royal Church of St. Mary at Aachen" during the Middle Ages...
, two abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
s and a city wall.
He laid the foundation of the fame of the Liège Schools, to which studious youths soon flocked from all Christendom. By procuring the services of Leo the Calabrian and thus making possible the study of Greek, Notker gave notable extension to the Liège curriculum. Among Notker's pupils, who extended the influence of the Liège schools to ever wider circles, may be mentioned Hubald, Wazo of Liège
Wazo of Liège
Wazo of Liège was bishop of Liège from 1041 to 1048, and a significant educator and theologian. His life was chronicled by his contemporary Anselm of Liège.During this period Liège became known as an educational center...
, Franco, who also taught at Liége, Gunther of Salzburg, Ruthard of Mainz
Ruthard of Mainz
Ruthard was archbishop of Mainz from 1089 to 1109.In 1096 he opposed violence against the Jews arising from the First Crusade, trying to turn Emicho away from Mainz. After a two-day stand-off, Emicho broke into the city, and caused a massacre....
and Erlwin of Cambrai, Heimo of Verdun, Hesselo of Toul, Heriger of Lobbes
Heriger of Lobbes
Heriger of Lobbes was an abbot of the abbey of Lobbes between 990-1007 and is remembered for his writings as theologian and historian.-Biography:...
, Adelmann
Adelmann
Adelmann was the bishop of Brescia, in Northern Italy, during the eleventh century. Adelmann seems to have become bishop there in 1050, and to have taken an active share in the church-reform movement of the period, especially against the clerical abuses of simony and concubinage.Of unknown...
(who later studied under Fulbert
Fulbert of Chartres
Fulbert of Chartres –10 April 1028) was the bishop of the Cathedral of Chartres from 1006 till 1028. He was a teacher at the Cathedral school there, he was responsible for the advancement of the celebration of the Feast day of “Nativity of the Virgin”, and he was responsible for one of the...
at Chartres
Chartres
Chartres is a commune and capital of the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. It is located southwest of Paris.-Geography:Chartres is built on the left bank of the Eure River, on a hill crowned by its famous cathedral, the spires of which are a landmark in the surrounding country...
), Gozechin who taught at Mainz and Adalbald of Utrecht. In Folcwin's opinion Notker's achievements surpass those of any of his predecessors. He developed the urban structure of the city, its fortifications, commerce and education. Under his rule, the city of Liège was sometimes called the Northern Athens.
Praiseworthy also were his services as a politician under Otto II
Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor
Otto II , called the Red, was the third ruler of the Saxon or Ottonian dynasty, the son of Otto the Great and Adelaide of Italy.-Early years and co-ruler with Otto I:...
and Henry II
Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry II , also referred to as Saint Henry, Obl.S.B., was the fifth and last Holy Roman Emperor of the Ottonian dynasty, from his coronation in Rome in 1014 until his death a decade later. He was crowned King of the Germans in 1002 and King of Italy in 1004...
. He traveled to Rome for the coronation of Otto II by Pope Gregory V
Pope Gregory V
Pope Gregory V, né Bruno of Carinthia , Pope from May 3, 996 to February 18, 999, son of the Salian Otto I, Duke of Carinthia, who was a grandson of the Emperor Otto I the Great . Gregory V succeeded Pope John XV , when only twenty-four years of age...
, and later negotiated a peace treaty between Henry II and Robert, the king of France. He adhered faithfully to the cause of the emperor Otto III
Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor
Otto III , a King of Germany, was the fourth ruler of the Saxon or Ottonian dynasty of the Holy Roman Empire. He was elected King in 983 on the death of his father Otto II and was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 996.-Early reign:...
, whom he accompanied to Rome. It was also he who brought back his corpse to Germany and prayed at his funeral in 1002.
The Gesta episcoporum Leodiensium have been frequently wrongly attributed to him, although he merely suggested its composition, and lent the work his name to secure it greater authority.
Johannes Fried
Johannes Fried
Johannes Fried is a German historian and mediaevalist.Fried studied at the University of Heidelberg, where he obtained his doctorate in 1970 and his habilitation in 1977. He was professor at the University of Cologne 1980-1983 and holds the Chair of Mediaeval History at the University of Frankfurt...
considers Notger von Lüttich, not John Canaparius
John Canaparius
John Canaparius was a Benedictine monk at the Aventine monastery in Rome. It had long been assumed that in the year 999 he wrote the first Vita sancti Adalberti episcopi Pragensis, or "Life of St...
, as the author of Vita sancti Adalberti episcopi Pragensis on Adalbert of Prague
Adalbert of Prague
This article is about St Adalbert of Prague. For other uses, see Adalbert .Saint Adalbert, Czech: ; , , Czech Roman Catholic saint, a Bishop of Prague and a missionary, was martyred in his efforts to convert the Baltic Prussians. He evangelized Poles and Hungarians. St...
, written around 1000, which for the first time mentions Danzig/Gdansk as "urbs Gyddanyzc".
Sources
- Schoolmasters of the Tenth Century. Cora E.Lutz. Archon Books 1977.
- Notger de Liège at la civilisation au Xe siècle. Brussels. 1905.
External links
- http://www.archive.org/details/notgerdeligeet01kurtuoft Notger de Liège at la civilisation au Xe siècle. Brussels. 1905.