-Caveat Lector-
GERBERT OF AURILLAC (ca. 955-1003)
by Lynn Nelson, University of Kansas, Dept. of History
Gerbert was born somewhere in the mountainous region of
Auvergne, in central France. Since neither his place of birth nor
his parents were recorded, it seems likely that he was of low
birth. Sometime about 963, he entered the monastery of St. Gerald
at Aurillac. This is the monastery that Gerald the Good had
established near his castle just before his death some sixty
years earlier, and where he was buried. It was, like Cluny, a
rather strict Benedictine monastery and was independent of any
local control, being subject only to the pope.
Here he studied his Latin grammar under a teacher by the
name of Raymond, for whom he held a special affection for the
rest of his life. Of course, by this time, "grammar" had come
to stand for the verbal skills included in the "trivium" --
grammar, logic, and rhetoric.
In 967, Count Borrell of Barcelona visited the monastery,
and the abbot asked the count to take Gerbert back to Spain with
him so the lad could study mathematics there. It would seem that
Gerbert had proven to be an apt pupil, and his abbot wanted to
see him go on to study the "quadrivium" -- arithmetic, geometry,
music, and astronomy. Borrell agreed and put the lad in the care
of the bishop of Vic, where there was a cathedral school.
Catalunya, in which both Barcelona and Vic were located, was
a frontier territory, and there was considerable communication
between Catalunya and the Muslims of al-Andalus to the south.
Al-Andalus was much more advanced that Christian Europe. While
the greatest library in Christian Europe boasted less than a
thousand volumes, the library in the Muslim capital of Cordoba
held over four hundred thousand. Catalunya benefitted from the
proximity of the cultured Muslims, and the libraries of the
cathedral of Vic and the nearby monastery of Ripoll were among
the largest and best equipped in Europe.
The proximity of the Muslims meant more than that in the
matter of the subjects of the quadrivium, however. The Muslims
had fallen heir to both Greek and Persian science in their
initial expansion and had translated many classics into Arabic.
At the same time, Arabic traders and travelers were in contact
with India and China and had absorbed many of their advances.
Muslim "scientists" were highly regarded, and perhaps nowhere in
Islam as much as in al-Andalus. Muslim astronomy was the most
advanced in the world, and Muslim astronomers proficient in using
the astrolabe had done much to map the skies. Although the names
of modern planets and constellations are Latin, the names of most
major stars --Altair, Deneb, Rigel, Sirius, Fomalhaut, Aldeberan,
Betelgeuse-- are Arabic as are many of the other terms of
astronomy, such as azimuth, almagest, almanac, and the Zodiac.
The Arabs were even further advanced in the realm of arithmetic.
They had adopted the concept of zero from the Indians and used a
positional numeric system much like the modern system -- in
fact, our numerals are based on the Arabic notation. They had
also borrowed the abacus from the Chinese and were proficient in
its use. They had gone beyond arithmetic and had established
algebra, were investigating prime numbers and coordinate
equations. Their study of proportions made it possible for them
to approach music in a quite precise manner, distinguishing
accurately between notes, developing theories of harmonies and
discords, and constructing musical instruments with quite
accurate tuning.
The cathedral school of Vic was able to offer Gerbert much
of this knowledge, and Gerbert took full advantage of the
opportunity. As a matter of fact, his knowledge and abilities
were so great that some of his contemporaries could not explain
them except by assuming he was ether a magician or had made a
pact with the devil. In this fashion arose the Gerbert of legend:
"Gerbert had travelled to Spain, where he became the
apprentice of a Muslim magician of wondrous powers. Gerbert came
to realize that all of the magician's powers came from the
spells that were contained in a book that he kept under lock and
key. At the same time, the magician began to suspect that Gerbert
wanted to steal his secrets and take them away with him, and so
began to watch him very closely and to hide the key to the chest
in which he kept his book. The magician had a beautiful daughter,
and Gerbert seduced her with the promise of taking her away with
him and marrying her. The duped girl helped Gerbert put a drug in
her father's evening wine and, when he had fallen into a stupor,
got the key from where he had hidden it, opened the chest, and
gave Gerbert the book.
"Gerbert immediately fled, leaving the girl behind. When the
magician awoke and saw what had happened, he got his horse, which
could run faster than the wind, and his dog, which could track
anything or anyone over or under both ground and water. As he
came to the bridge at Martorell, Gerbert heard the magician
riding after him and knew that he had to escape the magician's
dog. He quickly climbed over the side of the bridge and hung by
his hands beneath it. Since he was neither above or below either
the earth or water, the dog lost his scent, and the baffled
magician finally returned home, leaving Gerbert with the book of
spells.
"Some say that he prayed to Satan to save him from the
magician, and that Satan wafted him away beyond the sea. In order
to get home, Gerbert agreed to give his soul to Satan, and Satan,
in turn, promised to give him powers even greater than those
contained in the book of spells. The proof that this story is the
correct one is found in the fact that Gerbert kept a human head
with him and would put the head on his desk and converse with it
through the night, learning many secrets and about the future
from it."
In 969, Count Borrell and the bishop of Vic made a
pilgrimage to Rome, taking young Gerbert with them. He met and
impressed Pope John XIII (965-971) and the emperor Otto I
(962-973), who was visiting there also. The pope persuaded Otto
to take Gerbert on as tutor for his young son, who was to become
Otto II (973-983). After some years at this task, Otto gave
Gerbert leave to go to study advanced logic at the outstanding
cathedral school of Reims.
He made quite a name for himself at Reims. He set himself to
the task of building an organ with constant pressure supplied by
water power. There had been organs before, but their air pressure
had been generated by the organist pumping with his feet of an
assistant pumping a large bellows. This one not only gave an
extended steady level of sound, but its pipes were matched
mathematically so that its harmonics were superior to anything
heard in the West before. Gerbert had also mastered arabic
numerals and so could do calculations in his head that were
extremely difficult for anyone thinking in terms of Roman
numerals. He continued to study the abacus, and even constructed
a giant one. He marked out the floor of the nave of the
cathedral of Reims like an abacus and made a number of large
disks to take the place of the abacus beads. He gathered some
sixty-four members of the cathedral school to help him, gave them
sticks to push the disks, and sat in the organ loft from where he
could see the entire floor. He would call out instructions, and
his assistants would move the disks like a great game of
shuffleboard. He was able in this way to deal with numbers both
larger and smaller than had ever before been possible. He then
wrote a book on the abacus that became standard in the new
cathedral schools that were arising and revolutionized the study
of mathematics in the West.
He was invited to Ravenna to engage in a debate and, while
there, renewed his acquaintance with his old pupil Otto. Otto was
quite impressed by him and, when he became Holy Roman Emperor in
983, he made Gerbert the abbot of the famous monastery of Bobbio
and also appointed him as count of the district in which it was
located. Bobbio had been founded by St. Columban and had one of
the greatest libraries in Western Europe. It was close to Genoa
and had grown wealthy from the trade and commerce that were
beginning to enrich all of northern Italy, but it had fallen on
hard times. Incompetent abbots had depleted its treasury, local
nobles had seized its lands, and its monks had fallen into a
dissolute way of life. Gerbert undertook to remedy these matters,
but did not get very far.
Otto died the next year, however, and Gerbert lost his
patron and protector. Nevertheless, his reputation was so great
that he was invited to return as the master of the cathedral
school of Reims and secretary to the archbishop.
He became deeply involved in the political struggles of the
times. Basically, there was a struggle between the Saxon dynasty
of Germany, represented by the young Otto III and the Carolingian
claimants to the throne of France. When Lothair of France
attempted to take Lorraine from Otto III in 985, Gerbert and
his archbishop opposed him by supporting Hugh Capet, the count of
Paris, as the real ruler of France. By 987, both Lothair and his
son had died, and the Carolingian heir was Charles, duke of Lower
Lorraine. Charles asked Gerbert and his archbishop for their
support, but both used their influence on behalf of Hugh. Hugh
was elected king of France, and the Carolingian line of kings
came to an end.
The archbishop died in 989, and Gerbert expected to succeed
him. Hugh appointed Arnulf, a bastard son of the late King
Lothair instead. Archbishop Arnulf was conspiring with the
Carolingian Duke Charles, however, and turned over Reims to him
in 989. The city was devastated, Gerbert's possessions seized,
and most of his friends imprisoned or driven off. He finally
managed to escape his post as the archbishop's secretary and fled
to the court of King Hugh. In 991, Hugh finally had proof of
Archbishop Arnulf's treason, deposed him, and appointed Gerbert
in his place.
From 991-997, struggled to hold on to his archbishopric, but
eventually lost out. Hugh Capet died in 996, and Gerbert clashed
with his successor, Robert II (996-1031), when Gerbert declared
Robert's marriage to his cousin Bertha illegal. Then, in 997,
Pope Gregory V (996-998) stripped Gerbert of his episcopal
functions. Gerbert fled to the court of Otto II, where he was
welcomed and given a small estate.
After a short period of relaxation, Gerbert was called to
become the teacher and advisor of Otto III, then only seventeen
years old. Otto was in Ravenna, the southern capital of the Holy
Roman Emperors at the time. When Pope Gregory V died in 999, Otto
decided to wrest control of the papacy from local politics and
did so by appointing Gerbert pope. Gerbert took the name
Sylvester II, Sylvester I (314-335) having been the advisor of
the emperor Constantine.
Within short order, the Roman populace rebelled against a
foreign pope, and both Otto and Gerbert were forced to flee to
Ravenna. Otto led two unsuccessful expeditions to regain
control of the city, and, on a third, in 1002, he died in his
twenty-first year.
The legend says that "Gerbert had built a mechanical head
that would answer any questions that could be answered with
either 'yes' or 'no.' It had said 'yes' when he asked it if he
would become pope, so he asked it if he would die before he had
said mass in Jerusalem. The head said 'no,' and Gerbert decided
that he would never go to Jerusalem.
"In the course of his duties, he said mass in one of the
smaller churches in Rome and afterwards discovered that it was
the church of St. Mary of Jerusalem, commonly called by the
people simply "Jerusalem." He became sick shortly after, and
called for his followers. In his final delirium, he asked the
cardinals to cut his body into pieces and throw them into the
cesspools and garbage dumps of the city, saying that, while his
body might belong to Satan, he had never consented in his mind to
the oath that the devil had made him swear."
______________________________________________________________
MANIFESTATIONS OFFICIELLES DU TROISIEME MILLENAIRE
POURQUOI UN MILLENAIRE GERBERT ?
En 1990, le Comite d'Expansion Economique du Cantal a choisi
le nom de GERBERT pour son programme de developpement economique,
social et culturel du Massif Cantalien
"LEADER 1," mene avec l'Union Europeenne. Pourquoi ?
GERBERT, enfant pauvre des montagnes d'Auvergne, est devenu
l'homme le plus puissant de l'an mille. Il nous a prouve que rien
n'est impossible si l'on allie volonte et realisme. 1000 ans plus
tard, sa destinee ouvre des perspectives inattendues a son
territoire d'origine.
L'histoire nous a montre ainsi la capacite des hommes a
influer le cours des evenements, leur tenacite a lutter face a
l'austerite de la terre et aux difficultes du temps.
C'est pourquoi nous voulons celebrer GERBERT qui, en tote de
file de ces hommes, porta dans toute l'Europe l'obstination d'un
montagnard cantalien.
POURQUOI LE COMITE D'EXPANSION ECONOMIQUE DU CANTAL EST-IL A
L'INITIATIVE DE CE PROJET ?
Pour une culture, veitable levier economique.
Trop souvent, economie et culture sont dissociees. Il nous a
semble important que ce projet culturel soit porte par un
organisme de developpement economique.
Pour un developpement economique plus humain.
GERBERT, qui 1000 ans avant nous luttait pour un monde de
Paix et de fraternite, symbolise parfaitement notre volonte de
travailler a un developpement economique plus humain.
Ainsi le Comite d'Expansion Economique du Cantal propose
d'assurer la gestion, l'organisation generale et la coordination
du millenaire, sous le haut patronnage d'un Comite de Parrainage
constitue des personnalites concernees par le projet.
Le projet sera menéeen partenariat avec tous les acteurs
locaux, nationaux et europeens, qui se verront egalement confier
des missions de realisations specifiques en fonction de leurs
competences respectives.
2001, annee des relations Franco-Hongroise: au travers de
GERBERT, c'est un veritable "coup d'envoi" a une nouvelle Europe
culturelle qui va symboliquement otre donne.
Peu a peu, au travers des premieres manifestations les
cantaliens, les français et les europeens se seront reapproprie
cette partie de leur histoire du Haut Moyen-âge, liee au
personnage et a la vie exceptionnelle de Gerbert d'Aurillac.
Pendant l'annee 2001, Aurillac sera le centre de
celebrations en l'honneur de GERBERT L'EUROPEEN, celui qui a
offert a la Hongrie sa couronne, celui qui a permis a la Pologne
de devenir un Etat a part entiere, celui qui a etudie en
Catalogne et qui a su transmettre cette culture dans toute
l'Europe du 10eme siecle.
A un moment où l'on parle beaucoup d'amenagement du
territoire et où l'Union Europeenne est en passe de devenir une
reelle communaute de cultures, "Le Millenaire de Gerbert" fera du
Cantal, territoire rural, un pôle d'interet culturel, economique
et social et un exemple pour la France et l'Europe.
Ces manifestations se developperont autour de 3 axes, dans
le meme esprit que celui qui aura anime les precedentes actions:
Des manifestations a caractere artistique et culturel, des
evenements de dimension economique et une grande fote populaire,
dans le sens noble du terme, qui molera les pays et les cultures
d'Europe, a l'image de ce que GERBERT avait voulu, 1000 ans avant
nous.
ART ET CULTURE: Expositions
Grande exposition d'art europeen contemporain. Une dizaine
d'artistes connus des pays touches par GERBERT exposeront leurs
oeuvres. Un evenement exceptionnel, de renommee internationale
pendant le printemps et l'ete 2001. Parallelement, une bourse
d'etudes sera attribuee a de jeunes peintres de ces pays,
selectionnes par un jury, qui exposeront egalement.
GERBERT et les Sciences: les inventions de l'an Millle. Les
perspectives de l'an 2001 et apres ... Avec experiences,
animations et debats. (Astronomie, Mathematiques, Musique). Ces
inventions du 10e siecle peuvent otre reconstituees, utilisees et
exposees avec leur equivalent au 20e siecle . Une projection dans
le futur (prototypes, image virtuelle,...) et des animations
permettront au visiteur de voyager d'un passe vieux de mille ans
a ce que pourrait devenir ces inventions en l'an 2999.
Gerbert, un des premiers scientifiques d'occident a beaucoup
apporte dans les domaines des mathematiques, de l'astronomie, de
la musique. il a invente des tables a calcul (abaques), introduit
les chiffres arabes, realise des spheres reproduisant le
mouvement des astres, un nocturlade pour lire l'heure la nuit, un
monocorde permettant de diviser la musique en tons et demi-tons,
un orgue a vapeur ...
Au travers des sciences, c'est le melange harmonieux de
differentes cultures, grecque, latine, arabe, qui peut otre
celebre. Par dela les religions, les langues et les differences,
Gerbert a su prendre ce qu'il y avait de bon dans chaque pays,
pour le progres. Une belle leson de tolerance et d'ouverture
d'esprit.
l'Europe de Gerbert a l'Europe d'aujourd'hui: 1000 ans
d'histoire, pour la naissance de l'unite europeenne. Une
exposition sur l'histoire, mais aussi la politique europeenne, le
fonctionnement de la CEE, l'Europe culturelle ...
Oeuvres d'art, publications.
Realisation d'une oeuvre sculpturale en l'hommage de GERBERT
par un artiste contemporain renomme et pose dans un lieu
historique (proche de l'Abbatiale Saint Geraud).
Realisation d'un mur peint ou d'une fresque par des artistes
europeens (France, Hongrie, Pologne, Catalogne, Italie, Allemagne
...), sur le theme de GERBERT et de l'Europe.
Publication d'un livre du millenaire, des catalogues des
expositions et manifestations.
CELEBRATIONS, FETES ET SPECTACLES:
Visites officielles des representants des pays concernes par
GERBERT (Allemagne, Espagne, Hongrie, Italie, Pologne, Maroc).
Celebrations, inaugurations, conferences...
"La route GERBERT": affretement de trains speciaux qui
convergeront de l'Europe vers "le coeur du pays vert," une marche
symbolique GERBERT a l'image des pelerins de Compostelle qui
passaient par Aurillac.
Theatre, Danse et concerts ... Conferences et debats
Manifestations des cultures europeennes, CEE et Europe de
l'Est (Folklores, chants, musique) ... Competitions sportives ..
Festival europeen de theatre de rue, "AURILLAC 2001"
"Aurillac organise depuis 10 ans le festival europeen de
theatre de rue 'Eclat,' de renommee internationale.
"GERBERT et son Temps" inspirerait l'edition 2001, avec la
creation d'un espace "Haut Moyen-l'Age," veritable voyage dans le
temps vers l'AN MILLE et son cortege de recits historiques, mais
aussi de contes et de legendes, sources de toutes les
inspirations et de toutes les folies creatrices, pour faire rover
: Les miracles de Saint Geraud, GERBERT le berger devenu "roi,"
le Pape des Malefices, les peurs de la fin d'un millenaire... Un
voyage qui peut aussi se tourner vers l'avenir, le troisieme
millenaire et l'an 2999 ...
Le Cantal est riche d'un patrimoine historique et
architectural, qui sera le cadre ideal pour faire revivre le
passe du Haut-Moyen l'Age.
Il faut souligner qu'il existe une forte tradition du
theatre de rue en Hongrie. La fondation CZIFFRA souhaite donc
particulierement s'investir dans ce domaine.
ECONOMIE
Foire-Exposition et Salons europeens: Artisanat, sciences et
nouvelles technologies, Agriculture,... Chaque pays sera
officiellement represente par un pavillon d'exposition.
Il donnera ainsi sa propre vue historique, culturelle,
politique, sociale de GERBERT et de ce que GERBERT a pu apporter
directement ou indirectement a cette nation. Tous les moyens
d'expression sont possibles (art, ecrits, audiovisuel, ...).
Concours de produits agricoles, decouverte de produits
nouveaux de marques et de labels "GERBERT".
Foire des petits metiers traditionnels et d'artisanat, à
l'image de ce qui se fait en Hongrie, au Festival du Printemps de
Budapest ou encore a la Fote des metiers du quartier du chateau
de Buda. Inauguration d'un Centre des cultures d'Europe
"GERBERT," qui selon l'esprit d'ouverture et de tolerance du
personnage, perpetuerait l'idee d'un melange harmonieux de
cultures differentes, pour construire un monde meilleur.
Base sur l'idee "d'echanges culturels," chere a Gerbert, ce
lieu serait resolument tourne vers les nouvelles technologies de
communication et devra otre a la pointe du progres, voire un site
futuriste en la matiere. Veritable vitrine, ce lieu devrait otre
un concept unique d'autogestion, associant des partenaires
prives. Un bl'atiment de style, desaffecte au coeur d'Aurillac
est pressenti. Il mettrait symboliquement en harmonie les vielles
pierres du passe et des installations dignes du troisieme
millenaire.
La Fondation CZIFFRA propose de s'associer a ce projet,
notamment par l'intervention de M. Imre Makovecz, architecte du
pavillon hongrois a l'exposition universelle de Seville.
C'est en travaillant sur le projet general que cette idee
d'un "Centre GERBERT" pourra s'affiner, pour trouver sa version
definitive.
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