ERIUGENA
LIFE
| c810 | Born in Ireland. "Scots" was the name given the Irish in the ninth Century, and "Erigena" means "born of the people of Erin." Not much is known about his early life. He was a monk, and clearly he learned ancient Greek in Ireland. |
| c845 | Went to France, where he became master of the Palace School of Emperor Charles the Bald. Remained there until c870 |
| 849 | Erigena became involved in an intellectual controversy concerning predestination. This would continue until 860. |
| 851 | Asked to write a treatise on predestination by Hincmar of Reims. May imply that he had obtained some fame as a "theologian" by this time. Eriugena also composed the Annotationes in Marcianum Capellam from 859-860. |
| 855 & 859 |
Writings on predestination are condemned. We don’t know how Erigena responded to these condemnations |
| 860-865 | Began to translate works by the Pseudo-Dionysius, Maximus Confessor, and others. His translation of the Pseudo-Dionysius would have a long-range effect on the development of Western thought. He also wrote commentaries on the Gospel of John and the Pseudo-Dionysius. He also wrote De divisione naturae, which is considered his most important original piece. |
| c877 | Reported date of his death, reputedly stabbed by the pens of his pupils! |