984: Some Letters by Gerbert d’Aurillac Dealing with “Arabic” Mathematics and Astrology

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Author: Samer Sayed Qandil, in cooperation with Daniel G. König

Source

Gerbert d’Aurillac, Epistolae 17, 25, 24, ed./trans. Pierre Riché, in: Gerbert d’Aurillac, Correspondance, ed. Pierre Riché, vol. 1: Lettres 1 à 129, Paris: Les Belles Lettres, 1993, pp. 36-37, 50-51, 48-49; alternatively in: Lettres de Gerbert (983-997), ed. Julien Havet, Paris: Alphonse Picard, 1889, pp. 13-14, 19-20. Translation: Gerbert of Aurillac, Letters 25, 33, 32, in: The Letters of Gerbert: With his Papal Privileges as Sylvester II, trans. Harriet Pratt Lattin, New York: Columbia University Press, 1961, pp. 63-64, 69-70.
[Geraldo abbati Aureliacensi] De multiplicatione et divisione numerorum libellum a Joseph Ispano editum abbas Warnerius penes vos reliquit; ejus exemplar in commune rogamus. Si limina beatorum Remigii et Dionisii datur vobis copia videndi, nuntio praemisso, vestris alloquiis poterimus codelectari. [To abbot Gerald of Aurillac, spring 984] Abbot Warnerius left with you a book “On Multiplication and the Division of Numbers” (De multiplicatione et divisione numerorum) written by Joseph the Spaniard, and we both would like a copy of it. If an opportunity of visiting St. Rémy or St. Denis presents itself to you, and if you send a messenger ahead, we will be able to enjoy some conversations with you.
[Bonfilio Gerundensi episcopo] Multa quidem auctoritas vestris nominis me movet, cum ad videndum et alloquendum, tum etiam ad obtemperandum, et hoc diu negatum distulit negata libertas. Ea cum dolore concessa, domino meo Ottone Caesare jam non superstite, fas et amicis loqui, et eorum imperiis obsequi. Si qua nobis significare voletis, usque ad kl. novenbr. Remis, VIII kl. janr. Romae dicetis, si pace uti poterimus. De multiplicatione et divisione numerorum Joseph sapiens sententias quasdam edidit, eas pater meus Adalbero Remorum archiepiscopus vestro studio habere cupit. [To bishop Bonfill of Girona, spring 984] The great reputation of your name, indeed moves me not only to see and speak with you, but also to comply with your orders. It is only due to the fact that liberty has been denied me that I have so long put off this compliance. Now I that have my liberty, though only through sorrow, since my lord Otto the Caesar no longer lives, it is right for me both to talk to friends and to obey their commands. If you wish to make known anything to us, you can communicate with us at Reims until 1 November, or at Rome on 25 December, if we are able to avail ourselves of peace. Joseph the Wise edited certain sentences “On Multiplication and the Division of Numbers” (De multiplicatione et divisione numerorum), and my father Adalbero, archbishop of Reims, wishes to have these through your efforts.
[Lupito Barchinonensi] Licet apud te nulla mea sint merita, nobilitas tamen ac affabilitas tua me adducit in te confidere, de te praesumere. Itaque librum de astrologia translatum a te michi petenti dirige, et si quid mei voles in reconpensationem indubitate reposce. [To bishop Lupitus of Barcelona, April 984] Although I have no claim on you, still your renown and your courtesy lead me to trust in you, in fact to presume on you. And, so, I am asking you to send me the book “On Astrology” (De Astrologia), transferred by you, and if you desire anything from me in return, ask for it unhesitatingly.


Editions & Translations

Historiae Francorum scriptores coaetanei, ed. Andrea Du Chesne, vol. 2, Paris: Sébastien Cramoist, 1636, pp. 789-844 [edited on the basis of a lost manuscript], URL: http://mdz-nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:12-bsb10327778-4.

Silvester II (Gerbertus), Opera, ed. Jean Paul Migne (Patrologia latina 139), Paris: Garnier, 1880, cols 202-287 [based on the edition of Duchesne)

Gerbert, Oeuvres, ed. Alexandre Olleris, Clermont-Ferrand: Thibaud, 1867, pp. 1-154, URL: http://mdz-nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:12-bsb10685835-5.

Gerbert, Lettres de Gerbert (983-987), ed. Julien Havet (Collection de textes pour servir à l’étude et à l'enseignement de l'histoire, 6), Paris: Alphonse Picard,1889, URL: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k556198.texteImage.

Gerbertus, Opera mathematica (972-1003), ed. Nicolaus Bubnov, Hildesheim: Olms, 1963 [reprint of Berlin: Friedländer & Sohn, 1899], pp. 101-102, URL: https://archive.org/details/operamathematic00bubngoog.

Gerbert, The Letters of Gerbert with his Papal Privileges as Sylvester II , trans. Harriet P. Lattin, New York: Columbia University Press, 1961, URL: https://archive.org/details/lettersofgerbert0000sylv/page/n5/mode/2up.

Gerbert von Reims, Briefsammlung, ed. Fritz Weigle (MGH Briefe d. dt. Kaiserzeit, 2),, Weimar: Hermann Böhlaus Nachfolger, 1966, pp. 23-261, URL: https://www.dmgh.de/mgh_briefe_d_dt_kaiserzeit_2/index.htm.

Gerbert d’Aurillac, Correspondance, ed./trans. Pierre Riché, 2 vols, Paris: Les Belles Lettres, 1993.

Gerbert d’Aurillac, Lettere (983-997), ed. Paolo Rossi, Pisa: Edizioni Plus, Pisa University Press, 2009.

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Recommended Citation

Samer Sayed Qandil, in cooperation with Daniel G. König, "984: Some Letters by Gerbert d’Aurillac Dealing with “Arabic” Mathematics and Astrology", in: Transmediterranean History. Commented Anthology of Primary Sources, ed. Daniel G. König, Theresa Jäckh, Eric Böhme, URL: https://wiki.uni-konstanz.de/transmed-en/index.php/984:_Some_Letters_by_Gerbert_d’Aurillac_Dealing_with_“Arabic”_Mathematics_and_Astrology. Last Revision: 07.07.2020, Access: 6.05.2024.

Keywords

abacus; al-Andalus; Arabic; arithmetics; artes liberales; astrolabe; astrology; astronomy; Barcelona; calculation; Catalonia; Córdoba; Gaul; geometry; Hindu-Arabic numerals, knowledge transfer; Latin; libraries; magic; manuscripts; mathematics; monasteries; Mozarabs; Ottonian dynasty; Ptolemy; quadrivium; Ripoll; Saracens; scholars; schools; science; scriptoria; teaching; translation; Umayyads

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