Milo OF Rheims, a noted character in the ecclesias- tical history of the 8th century, fiourished as archbishop of Rheims and Treves. In his early life he was decid- edly irreligious; dedicated himself to a soldier's pro- fession, and gained much notoriety as one of Charles Martel's warriors. When the Carlovingian was in- volved in a quarrel with St. Rigobert, the archbishop of Rheims, he ended the dispute by deposing Rigobert, and bestowed the primatical see upon Milo, who soon after succeeded in obtaining possession also of the equally important archiepiscopate of Treves. lie is described as being a clerk in tonsure, but in every other respect an irreligious laic ; yet when pope Boniface interfered and sought his removal, the holy father, with all the aid of his ro3'al patrons, was unable to oust IMilo from his inappropriate dignities; and in 752, ten j-ears after the beginning of his reforms, we find pope Zachary, in re- sponse to an appeal for advice, counselling to leave Milo to the divine vengeance (Epist. 142). Nothing more is known of Milo's personal history. See Lea, Jlist. of Sacerdotal Celibacy, p. 132.
Milon (1), a French monastic, was born about the beginning of the 9th century. In his youth he sub- mitted to the monastic rules of the abbey of Saint Amand. Some critics have reckoned him amonG; the
abbots of that house, but this is an erroneous opinion. Milon was superintendent of the schools attached to Saint Amand, when Charles the Bald confided to him the education of his two sons, Pepin and Drogon. He died June 20, 872. A great number of the poems of Milon have been preserved. His Vie de Saint A mand, in heroic verse, is preserved in the collection of BoUan- dus of February 5th. It is to be regretted that ;ve can- not find in this collection a supplement in prose to the Vie de Saint Amaml by the monk Baudemond. Hen- schenius pretends, it is true, that this supplement is not the work of Milon ; but the manuscripts, the epitaph of Milon, and the authority of Mabillo;i condemn the as- sertion of Henschenius. This supplement can be found in Surius of February 6th. Mabillon and Bollandus have, besides, published two sermons of Milon on Saint Amand, which are also found in the works of Philip, abbot of Bonne-Esperance. To the writings already mentioned we may add a I/omelie sur Saint Principe, edited by Su- rius; a little poem, Sur le I'rint, mps <t riiiver, pub- lished by Casimir Oudin, in his Sujijih mniium de Scrip- toribus ecclesiasticis a Bella rniiiin atnissis ; an epitaph on the princes Drogon and Pepin, in the collection of Bollandus, June 16th, ascribed to Milon by Mabillon ; two pieces in hexameter verse, Sur la Croix, which are still unedited; also a poem, Sur la Sobriete, published by jNIartene, A7iecd. i, 44. — Trithemius, De ScrijJt. eccles. c. 283 ; Mabillon, Atinal. i, 427 ; Hist. Lift, de la Ei-ance, V, 409 ; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s. v.
Milon (2), a French prelate, was born about the be- ginning of the 11th century. He joined the Benedic- tine order in the monastery of Saint-Aubin, at Angers. Milon was sent to Rome by his abbot to pope Urban II, and was by liim jiresented with the cardinal's hat, and made bishop of Palestrine. He was finally ordered to return to France, and preach against simony. Milon assisted in 1095 at the Council of Clermont. After the death of Urban H, Milon was appointed by Pascal II papal legate. Milon died about the year 1112. Mar- bode wrote a eulogy upon him, which Mabillon has pub- lished in the fifth volume of his Annales. Martene has published, in his Voyage Litteraire, ii, 244, sopie verses of a certain Milon which are believed to be writ- ten by the chief bishop of Palestrine.— //w^ Lift, de la France, x, 20; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s. v.
Milon (3), a French prelate, was born in the latter part of the 11th century. In his youth he lived in strict seclusion, but later embraced the rules of the can- ons of Premontre; in 1121 was made abbot of the mon- astery of Dompmartin; and finally, in 1131, was elected and confirmed bishop of Terouanne. The first act of his episcopate appears to have been the consecration of Simon, abbot of Saint-Bertin. Milon was a strict dis- ciplinarian. In 1148 he assisted in the Council of Rheims, at the trial of Gilbert de la Porree. In 1150 he was en- gaged in a debate with Thierry, count of Flanders. In 1157, delegated by the sovereign pontiff, he adjusted a dispute M'hich arose between the bishop of Amiens and the abbot of Corbie. Baronius has praised the religious character and wisdom of Milon ; others have greatly extolled his humility. Claude la Saussaye has given him a place in his martyrology; and Luc, abbot of Saint-CorneiUe, has dedicated to him his Commentaires sur le Cantique des Cantiques. Thus Milon, who lived in an age fruitful in illustrious prelates, was one of the glories of his province. No one has to this day made a rigorous distinction between his authentic writings and the more numerous works which appear to ha\'e been improperly attributed to him. He died July 16, nbS.— Gallia Christ, x, col. 1347, 1546 ; Hist. Lift, de la France, xiii, 286 ; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s. v.