Sedulius Scottus
Encyclopedia
Sedulius Scottus was an Irish teacher, Latin grammarian and Scriptural commentator, who lived in the ninth century.
Sedulius is sometimes called Sedulius the Younger, to distinguish him from Coelius Sedulius
(a 5th century poet). The Irish form of the name is Siadhal.
Sedulius the Younger flourished from 840 to 860. There are, altogether, six Siadhals mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters
between the years 785 and 855. Of these, one was present at a council at Rome in 721, and another was Abbot of Kildare, and died in 828.
. It appears from the manuscript records of the ninth century that there was a teacher at St. Lambert, Liège, who was known as Sedulius Scotus, and was a scribe and a poet. He was a student of Greek, and, according to Montfaucon
, it was he who copied the Greek Psalter (now no. 8047 in the "Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal", Paris). His poems, to the number of ninety, are published by Traube
in the Poetae Aevi Carolini, which is a portion of the Monumenta Germaniae Historica.
It is quite probable that, towards the end of his days, he went to Milan, following the example of his countryman, Dungal
, who established a school at Pavia. When and where he died is unknown.
, or introduction to the logic of Aristotle, and a scriptural commentary Collectanea in omnes beati Pauli Epistolas. The first of these is a noteworthy contribution to Christian ethics. It is the first, apparently, of a long line of treatises written during the Middle Ages for the instruction of Christian princes and rulers, a dissertation on the duties peculiar to that state of life, a Mirror for Princes, as such works came to be called at a much later period.
Sedulius's work shows, among other traits, a deep moral feeling, a realization of the fact that the mission of the state is neither purely economic on the one hand nor exclusively ecclesiastical, on the other. The question of the relations between Church and State had, indeed, been raised, and Sedulius affirms the rights of the Church, to defend them. He is not on the side of those who, seeing in Charlemagne
the ideal of a pontiff
and ruler in one person, were in favor of the idea that the prince should in fact be supreme in matters religious. On the contrary, he is in favor of a division of temporal and spiritual powers and requires of the prince a careful observance of the Church's rights and privileges. The description of the qualifications of the Queen (pp. 34 sq. in Hellmann's ed.) is not only Christian in feeling and tone, but also humanistic, in the best sense of the word.
The commentary on the Isagoge was known in Western Europe in the Latin version only.
Not the least interesting of the writings of Sedulius are his letters, some of which are published in the "Neues Archiv", II, 188, and IV, 315. In them are narrated the vicissitudes of the Irish exiles on the Continent, and an insight is given into the attitude towards those exiles by the authorities, civil and ecclesiastical, as well as by the people.
(The Celtic Latin Tradition of Biblical Style, p. 129, edited and translated by David Howlett, Dublin, 1995)
Sedulius is sometimes called Sedulius the Younger, to distinguish him from Coelius Sedulius
Coelius Sedulius
Coelius Sedulius, was a Christian poet of the first half of the 5th century. He is termed a presbyter by Isidore of Seville and in the Gelasian decree....
(a 5th century poet). The Irish form of the name is Siadhal.
Sedulius the Younger flourished from 840 to 860. There are, altogether, six Siadhals mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
between the years 785 and 855. Of these, one was present at a council at Rome in 721, and another was Abbot of Kildare, and died in 828.
Life
The best known, however, and the most important, was neither of these, but a Siadhal who, during the reign of the Emperor Lothair (840-855) was one of a colony of Irish teachers at LiègeLiège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
. It appears from the manuscript records of the ninth century that there was a teacher at St. Lambert, Liège, who was known as Sedulius Scotus, and was a scribe and a poet. He was a student of Greek, and, according to Montfaucon
Montfaucon
-Places:*In Switzerland**Montfaucon, Switzerland, in the canton of Jura*In France** Montfaucon, Aisne, in the Aisne département** Montfaucon, Doubs, in the du Doubs département** Montfaucon, Gard, in the Gard département...
, it was he who copied the Greek Psalter (now no. 8047 in the "Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal", Paris). His poems, to the number of ninety, are published by Traube
Ludwig Traube (palaeographer)
Ludwig Traube was a paleographer and held the first chair of Medieval Latin in Germany . He was a son of the physician Ludwig Traube ....
in the Poetae Aevi Carolini, which is a portion of the Monumenta Germaniae Historica.
It is quite probable that, towards the end of his days, he went to Milan, following the example of his countryman, Dungal
Dungal
-People:* Saint Dungal* Dungal of Bobbio* Indrechtach mac Dungalaig* Dúngal Eilni mac Scandail* Dúngal mac Amalgado* Dúngal mac Cellaig* Dúngal mac Selbaig or Dungal of Dalriada-Places:*Dungal, Guinea-Bissau, near Badancar...
, who established a school at Pavia. When and where he died is unknown.
Works
Sedulius's most important works are his treatise De Rectoribus Christianis, a commentary on Porphyry's IsagogeIsagoge
The Isagoge or "Introduction" to Aristotle's "Categories", written by Porphyry in Greek and translated into Latin by Boethius, was the standard textbook on logic for at least a millennium after his death. It was composed by Porphyry in Sicily during the years 268-270, and sent to Chrysaorium,...
, or introduction to the logic of Aristotle, and a scriptural commentary Collectanea in omnes beati Pauli Epistolas. The first of these is a noteworthy contribution to Christian ethics. It is the first, apparently, of a long line of treatises written during the Middle Ages for the instruction of Christian princes and rulers, a dissertation on the duties peculiar to that state of life, a Mirror for Princes, as such works came to be called at a much later period.
Sedulius's work shows, among other traits, a deep moral feeling, a realization of the fact that the mission of the state is neither purely economic on the one hand nor exclusively ecclesiastical, on the other. The question of the relations between Church and State had, indeed, been raised, and Sedulius affirms the rights of the Church, to defend them. He is not on the side of those who, seeing in Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
the ideal of a pontiff
Pontiff
A pontiff was, in Roman antiquity, a member of the principal college of priests . The term "pontiff" was later applied to any high or chief priest and, in ecclesiastical usage, to a bishop and more particularly to the Bishop of Rome, the Pope or "Roman Pontiff".-Etymology:The English term derives...
and ruler in one person, were in favor of the idea that the prince should in fact be supreme in matters religious. On the contrary, he is in favor of a division of temporal and spiritual powers and requires of the prince a careful observance of the Church's rights and privileges. The description of the qualifications of the Queen (pp. 34 sq. in Hellmann's ed.) is not only Christian in feeling and tone, but also humanistic, in the best sense of the word.
The commentary on the Isagoge was known in Western Europe in the Latin version only.
Not the least interesting of the writings of Sedulius are his letters, some of which are published in the "Neues Archiv", II, 188, and IV, 315. In them are narrated the vicissitudes of the Irish exiles on the Continent, and an insight is given into the attitude towards those exiles by the authorities, civil and ecclesiastical, as well as by the people.
The Scholars of Clonard
The poem, The Scholars of Clonard, is attributed to Sedulius:- Look on the marble columns surpassing the stars,
- which the sand of the saint-bearing land supports here
- happy, famous Ailerán, Vinnau, Fergus,
- shining lights made by gift-carrying God.
- O He sent a great present of Scotia [i.e.Ireland],
- rich relics which Pictonia [i.e. Poitiers] wishes to be its own,
- whence comes Titan and where night established the stars
- and where midday is hot with blazing hours
- [i.e. the east and the west and the south].
(The Celtic Latin Tradition of Biblical Style, p. 129, edited and translated by David Howlett, Dublin, 1995)