The life and career of the man who became Pope Sylvester II was the stuff of legend in itself. He was one of the best educated, accomplished men of his day, and perhaps that is why so many legends grew up around him, earning him the title of “Sorcerer Pope.” Was he really a sorcerer, or just a man ahead of his time?
Education
Gerbert d’ Aurillac was born into a humble family sometime around AD 940 in Aurillac, Auvergne. At a relatively young age, he was sent to the Benedictine monastery of St. Geraud. He quickly impressed the monks with his sharp intellect and ability to learn. They sent him to Catalonia to study mathematics and the sciences at the great universities of Moorish Spain.
In 970 he accompanied Count Borel to Rome, where he impressed Pope John XIII with his learning. John recommended him to the Emperor Otto I, who promptly put the young monk to work as a teacher. Gerbert’s pupils included the emperor’s own son, Otto II. About a year later, he was sent to Reims to study logic at the cathedral school there, but soon found himself appointed as head of the school, serving there from 972 to 982.
The Rise to the Papacy
After leaving the cathedral school, Gerbert’s ecclesiastical career took on new life. He was named abbot of a monastery near Genoa, but returned to Reims shortly afterward. There he was named to succeed Archbishop Adalbero, but was deposed in 995. Gerbert then returned to Otto III’s court where he tutored the emperor himself and in 996 accompanied Otto to his formal coronation as emperor. Two years later, he became archbishop of Ravenna, and was elected as pope in the year 999, becoming the first Frenchman ever to occupy the Throne of St. Peter.
As Pope, Sylvester worked with Emperor Otto III to achieve their mutual dream of creating a united Christendom, and attempted, but failed, to raise a Crusade to free the Holy Land. He spoke out strongly against irregularities and corruption in the Church and was a strong supporter of missionaries. He established metropolitan sees in both Poland and Hungary, creating Stephen I as the first king of Hungary. Sylvester’s close relationship with Otto upset the Roman nobles, who drove Sylvester out of Rome in 1001. He was allowed to return to the Vatican following Otto’s death and remained there for the rest of his life.
Sylvester II died on May 12, 1003. As with many controversial popes, rumors soon began to circulate in Rome that he had been poisoned, possibly by a woman named Stephania, who was thought to have poisoned Otto. It is more likely, however, that old age, rather than foul play, ultimately removed this pope from his throne.
Achievements
Gerbert’s many achievements include the introduction of Arabic numbers to western Europe, although he did not adopt the zero. His Latin was excellent and his letters are often compared to those of Sidonius. He wrote a treatise on geometry, taught astronomy, and described the abacus and the astrolabe. He is credited with inventing the pendulum clock and a steam-powered organ, and demonstrated the mathematical principles of music by using vibrating strings.
He collected books wherever he went and paid well to have manuscripts from other libraries and collections copied for his own library. His scholarship was legendary, and eventually led to the creation of legends about the source of his great knowledge. Some came to believe that Sylvester was in fact a sorcerer, or at least a hermeticist.
Among the stories that grew up around Sylvester was the tale of his encounter in Spain with a legendary character named Meridiana. She appeared to Gerbert in Spain, offering him her body, riches, and magical wisdom. Gerbert accepted the offer, gaining the knowledge and wisdom which launched him on his successful career as a teacher and ecclesiastic.
Another story has Gerbert seducing the daughter of his teacher of alchemy in order to learn the “secret of secrets.” He was expelled from Spain as a result, but according to the legend, he managed to achieve the so-called “great work” of alchemy.
It was also said of Gerbert that he owned a talking head. Not much is known about this artifact, or how it was supposed to work, but several other famous men such as the monk-scientist Roger Bacon and the Dominican St. Albertus Magnus were also thought to have possessed talking heads.
So great was his learning and knowledge that he is still regarded today as one of the most scholarly popes in the history of the Catholic Church. Whether his knowledge came about because of his innate brilliance and hard work, or by some sort of magic, his achievements in science and his many inventions ensure his place as a scientist as well as his position as one of the most respected popes of his, or any other day.
Selected Sources:
The Story of Civilization, Vol. IV: The Age of Faith, Will Durant, 1950, MJF Books, Fine Communications, Two Lincoln Square, 60 West 66th Street, New York, NY 10023
The Cult of the Black Virgin, Ean Begg, 1996, Penguin Books USA Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014, USA
The Middle Ages: An Illustrated History, Barbara A. Hanawalt, 1998, Oxford University Press, Inc., 198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
The Pope Encyclopedia, 1995, Matthew Bunson, Crown Trade Paperbacks, New York, NY
The Templar Treasure at Gisors, Jean Markale, 1986, Editions/Pygmalion/Gerard Watelet, Paris, English Translation copyright 2003 by Inner Traditions International, One Park Street, Rochester, Vermont
