782 FOURTH PERIOD. A. D. 590-1049.
bishops share with Peter the care of Christ's flock.1 This indi cates that the tract was written before his elevation to the papacy, and that he did not hold the ultramontane or Vatican doctrine of papal absolutism.
His Epistles to popes, emperors, kings, queens, archbishops and other dignitaries, shed light on the history of the times, and show his high connections, and his genius for politics and intrigue.2 They are mostly short, and include also some letters of Otho III. The longest and most interesting is addressed to Queen Adelaide, wife of Hugo Capet, and the suffragans of the diocese of Rheirns,3 in defense of his ordination as arch bishop of Rheims in opposition to his rival Arnulf, whom he afterwards reinstated in his see as soon as he became pope.4
§ 180. Fulbert of Chartres.
I. Sanctus FULBERTUS, Carnotensis episcopns :• Opera, in Migne, Tom.
CXLI. col. 163-374. They were first printed by Masson at Paris, 1585.
II. Du PIN, IX. 1-6. CEILLIER, XIII. 78-89. Hist. lit. de la France,
VII. 261-279 (reprinted in Migne, I. c. col. 167-184). NEANDER, III. passim. REUTER: Gesch. der rel. Aufklarung im Mittelalter (1875), I. 89-91. J. B. SOUCHET: Hist, du diocese et de la mile de Chartres. Chartres, 1867-1876. 4 vols. Of. KARL WERNER : Gerbert von Aurillac. Wien, 1878. A. VOGEL in Herzog2 IV. 707 sq.
The most distinguished pupils of Gerbert were the Emperor Otho III., King Robert of France, Richer, the historian of France, and Fulbert of Chartres, the most renowned teacher of his age. They represent the rise of a new zeal for learning which began to dispel the darkness of the tenth century. France took the lead, Italy followed.
1 L.c. col. 171, in explaining " Pa see oves meas" (John 21: 15 sqq.), he says: " Quas oves non solum tune bealus suscepit apostolus, sed et nobiscum eas accepit, et cum illo eas suscipimus omnes."
2 Miene, col. 201-286.
3 " Dominse et gloriosse Adelaidi reginse semper Augustse Gerbertus, gratia Domini Rcmorum episcopus, et omnibus suis confratribus et co'episcopis Remorum diceceseot, bene valere in Christo." Migne, 242-244.
* Mansi, XIX. 242; Hefele, IV. 654.
$ 180. FULBKKT OF CHARTRES. 783
FULBERT, caller! by his admiring disciples "the Socrates of the Franks," was born of poor and obscure parents, probably at Chartres, about 950, and educated in the cathedral school of Rheims by Gerbert. He founded a similar school at Chartres, which soon acquired a brilliant reputation and rivalled that of Rheims. About 1003 he was elected chancellor of the church of Chartres, and in 1007 its bishop. When the cathedral burned down (1020), he received contributions from all parts of France and other countries for its reconstruction, but did not live to finish it. He was involved in the political and ecclesiastical disturbances of his country, opposed the use of the sword by the bishops, and the appropriation of church property and sale of offices by the avaricious laity. He lost the favor of the court by his opposition to the intrigues of Queen Constantia. He died April 10, 1029.1
Fulbert's fame rests chiefly on his success as a living teacher. This is indicated by his surname.2 He was not an original thinker, but knew how to inspire his pupils with enthusiasm.3 His personality was greater than his learning. He wisely com bined spiritual edification with intellectual instruction, and aimed at the eternal welfare of his students. He used to walk with them at eventide in the garden and to engage in familiar conversations on the celestial country; sometimes he was over-
1 An epitaph (in Migne, 1. c. 165) describes Fulbert as "suce tempestatis [sui tcmporis] pontificum decus, lux prcedara mundo a Deo data, pauperum sustentator, desolatorum consolator, prwdonum et latronnm refrenator, vir eloquent isximus, et sapicntitsimus tarn in divinis quam in libcralium artium libris." There is also an epitaph in poetry, /. c. col. 171.
2 " Venerabilix tile Socrates'' he is called by Adelmann.
8 Renter (1.89) characterizes him very well: ".Bin ungcic'dhnliches padagogisches Talent ist sicker demjenigen eigen getcesen, wclchen die beu-undrrndcn Schiller den Socrates der Franke.n nannten. Die Personlichkeit war ungleich grosser als die wissenschaftliche Leistung, das individuell Anfassende bedeutsamer als die matcrielle Unterweisung. Nicht flihig originelle Gedanken zu entwickeln und mitzutheilen, hat Fulbert als Bildner der Eigenthumlichkeit begabter Schiller seine Virtuositat in der anregenden Kraft seines Umgangs gezeigt. Dieser Lehrer wurde der Vater gar ver~ tchiedcn gestimmter wissenschaftlicher Sohnc"