Magnentius Hrabanus Maurus (also known as Raban, Rabanus, and Rhabanus) acquired the final part of his name from his teacher, Alcuin, who gave it to him in honor of Saint Maur, the favorite pupil of Saint Benedict. He was of aristocratic birth; 776 is more likely as his date of birth than 784, which is sometimes given, and he was probably born in Mainz. He was educated first in the monastery founded by Saint Boniface at Fulda, which had become a major center of learning; he then went to Tours, where he studied under Alcuin, who had been Charlemagne's principal teacher. In Tours he came under the influence of the austere reforms of Benedict of Aniane. Early in the ninth century Hrabanus took over the school at Fulda, and he was ordained in 814. He left Fulda for a time, returned in 817, and on the death of Abbot Eigil he became...