Peter of Toledo
Encyclopedia
Peter of Toledo was a significant translator into Latin of the twelfth century. He was one of the team preparing the first Latin translation of the Qur'an
(the Lex Mahumet pseudoprophete
).
While not much is known of his life, from his fluency in Arabic
he is assumed to have been a Mozarab
. His activities as a translator suggest he worked at the Toledo School of Translators
, which was supported by the archbishop of Toledo, Raymond de Sauvetât
. Deficiencies in the translation of Apology of al-Kindy
, on which he is known to have worked, indicate that his knowledge of Classical Arabic
was limited.
In 1142, Peter the Venerable
visited Spain and recruited a team of translators who were to translate five Arabic texts, including the Qur'an. The translation work went on in 1142-3. Peter of Toledo appears to have been the principal translator of only one of the texts, the Apology of al-Kindy
, but he played a key role in the project as a whole, collaborating with three other people who were familiar with Arabic, Robert of Ketton
, Herman of Carinthia
, a Muslim called Mohammed and also with Peter of Poitiers
, who undertook the polishing of the Latin. Kritzeck credits Peter of Toledo with having planned and annotated the collection, but this interpretation depends on the Peter being the author of anonymous glosses in a manuscript which has survived in France.
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
(the Lex Mahumet pseudoprophete
Lex Mahumet pseudoprophete
Lex Mahumet pseudoprophete is the translation of the Qur'an into Latin by Robert of Ketton...
).
While not much is known of his life, from his fluency in Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
he is assumed to have been a Mozarab
Mozarab
The Mozarabs were Iberian Christians who lived under Arab Islamic rule in Al-Andalus. Their descendants remained unconverted to Islam, but did however adopt elements of Arabic language and culture...
. His activities as a translator suggest he worked at the Toledo School of Translators
Toledo School of Translators
The Toledo School of Translators is the name that commonly describes the group of scholars who worked together in the city of Toledo during the 12th and 13th centuries, to translate many of the philosophical and scientific works from classical Arabic, classical Greek, and ancient Hebrew.The School...
, which was supported by the archbishop of Toledo, Raymond de Sauvetât
Raymond de Sauvetât
Francis Raymond de Sauvetât, or Raymond of Toledo, was the Archbishop of Toledo from 1125 to 1152. He was a French Benedictine monk, born in Gascony....
. Deficiencies in the translation of Apology of al-Kindy
Apology of al-Kindy (book)
Apology of al-Kindy is a medieval theological polemic. The word "apology" is a translation of the Arabic word risāla, and it is used in the sense of apologetics. The work makes a case for Christianity and draws attention to perceived flaws in Islam.It is attributed to an Arab Christian referred...
, on which he is known to have worked, indicate that his knowledge of Classical Arabic
Classical Arabic
Classical Arabic , also known as Qur'anic or Koranic Arabic, is the form of the Arabic language used in literary texts from Umayyad and Abbasid times . It is based on the Medieval dialects of Arab tribes...
was limited.
In 1142, Peter the Venerable
Peter the Venerable
Peter the Venerable , also known as Peter of Montboissier, abbot of the Benedictine abbey of Cluny, born to Blessed Raingarde in Auvergne, France. He has been honored as a saint but has never been formally canonized.-Life:Peter was "Dedicated to God" at birth and given to the monastery at...
visited Spain and recruited a team of translators who were to translate five Arabic texts, including the Qur'an. The translation work went on in 1142-3. Peter of Toledo appears to have been the principal translator of only one of the texts, the Apology of al-Kindy
Apology of al-Kindy (book)
Apology of al-Kindy is a medieval theological polemic. The word "apology" is a translation of the Arabic word risāla, and it is used in the sense of apologetics. The work makes a case for Christianity and draws attention to perceived flaws in Islam.It is attributed to an Arab Christian referred...
, but he played a key role in the project as a whole, collaborating with three other people who were familiar with Arabic, Robert of Ketton
Robert of Ketton
Robert of Ketton was an English medieval theologian, astronomer and Arabist.Ketton, where Robert was either born or perhaps first took holy orders, is a small village in Rutland, a few miles from Stamford.Robert is believed to have been educated at the Cathedral School of Paris...
, Herman of Carinthia
Herman of Carinthia
Herman Dalmatin or Herman of Carinthia , also known in Latin as Sclavus Dalmata, Secundus, was a philosopher, astronomer, astrologer, mathematician, translator and author....
, a Muslim called Mohammed and also with Peter of Poitiers
Peter of Poitiers (secretary)
Peter of Poitiers was a monk who served as secretary to Peter the Venerable, the ninth abbot of Cluny. Little is known of his life. Presumably he came from the French city of Poitiers or its vicinity.-Translating career:...
, who undertook the polishing of the Latin. Kritzeck credits Peter of Toledo with having planned and annotated the collection, but this interpretation depends on the Peter being the author of anonymous glosses in a manuscript which has survived in France.