Æthelberht 8 (Male) Archbishop of York, 766/767-779/780; aka Koaena, Ælberht
m/l viii

Notes: The identification, accepted by Tangl, was suggested by Hahn @Tangl, p. 261, n. 1.

BDDAB, p. 5; BEASE, p. 6; Fletcher, pp. 105-6; David Rollason, ‘Ælberht (d. 779/80)’, ODNB.

Factoid List

Recorded Name (17)

Aelberhtus (2)

 Alcuin.Ep  114 (p. 167 line 8)
 Alcuin.Carm.2  1

Aelbertus (1)

 Alcuin.Epitaph.2  Line 2

Aelbrectus (1)

 Anon.HagiogListPhil1869  293 (8 November)

Coena (1)

 Lull.Ep.T125   

Helbertus (4)

 Anon.VitAlcuini  6
 Anon.VitAlcuini  7
 Anon.VitAlcuini  8
 Anon.VitAlcuini  9

Koaena (1)

 Æthelberht Coena.Ep.T124   

Ædelbertus (1)

 ASC (DEF)  779 F(Lat.)

Ælberctus (1)

 Alcuin.VersEubor  1397

Æðelberht (2)

 ASC (DEF)  766 EF(OE)
 ASC (DEF)  779 E

Æðelbyrht (1)

 ASC (DEF)  779 F(OE)

Æþelberht (2)

 ASC (DEF)  766 D
 ASC (DEF)  779 D

Personal Information (28)

intellectual (6)

 Anon.VitAlcuini  6 (He [sc. Æthelberht 8] surpassed his companions not only in the charm of his wisdom but also in the power of his other virtues.)
 Alcuin.VersEubor  1397 (wise)
 Alcuin.VersEubor  1412-14 (Reason carried him to the highest citadel of learning, opening to him the secrets of wisdom.)
 Alcuin.Epitaph.2  Line 4 (He was always a great lover of wisdom)
 Alcuin.Carm.2  3 (a famous teacher in the celebrated city of York)
 Alcuin.Carm.2  4 ([He] was always a great lover of wisdom)

moral (5)

 Alcuin.VersEubor  1398-1407 (He was a good and just man, generous, pious and kind, a promoter, teacher and lover of the Catholic faith, a leader, teacher, defender and product of the church, a cultivator of justice, a proclaimer of the law, a herald of salvation, a hope to the poor, a father to orphans, a consoler of those in need, harsh to the inflexible, gentle to the good and hard on the proud, brave in adversity and humble in good fortune, wise of mind, not loquacious but active in deed. As the summit of honour rose, so his mind subjected himself to humble piety.)
 Alcuin.VersEubor  1427 (pious and prudent)
 Alcuin.VersEubor  1479 (just)
 Alcuin.VersEubor  1482 ([He was] a wise teacher and a pious priest)
 Alcuin.VersEubor  1522 (outstanding in his merits)

other (2)

 Lull.Ep.T125    (Your Holiness)
 Lull.Ep.T125    (Your holy Excellency)

piety (6)

 Anon.VitAlcuini  6 (a man blessed and distinguished .. like to his [sc. Alcuin 1's] master [sc. Ecgberht 7] in all respects.)
 Alcuin.VersEubor  1426 (As he rose in [clerical] rank, he grew in his holy merits.)
 Alcuin.VersEubor  1469 (He adorned his office with positive merits.)
 Alcuin.VersEubor  1485-8 (He did not change his former habits with respect to dress and food: he shunned too much luxury but did not pursue the truly mean, rejoicing in a moderate course of action.)
 Alcuin.Ep  121 (p. 177 line 5) (most devoted industry of my teacher)
 Æthelberht Coena.Ep.T124    (servant of the servants of God)

psychological (1)

 Anon.VitAlcuini  8 (joyful)

religion (2)

 Alcuin.VersEubor  1581 (Christ was his love ...)
 Alcuin.Carm.2  1-2 ([his] holy merits)

reputation (3)

 Alcuin.VersEubor  1415 (he sprang from famous ancestors)
 Alcuin.VersEubor  1521 (most famous in the clerical order)
 Alcuin.Epitaph.2  Line 3 (famous within a renowned city)

saintly status (3)

 Anon.VitAlcuini  7 (blessed)
 Anon.VitAlcuini  8 (blessed)
 Alcuin.Epitaph.2  Lines 1-2 (with holy merits)

Education (1)

 He grew in the knowledge of books.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1421

Authorship (1)

 Author of a letter to Lull (Letter): Æthelberht Coena.Ep.T124   

Office (25)

Archbishop (12)

 Anon.HagiogListPhil1869  293 (8 November)
 Anon.VitAlcuini  9
 Alcuin.VersEubor  1491
 Alcuin.VersEubor  1522
 Alcuin.VersEubor  1575
 Alcuin.Epitaph.2  Line 1
 ASC (DEF)  766 DEF(OE) (Archbishop in York)
 ASC (DEF)  779 DEF(OE and Lat.)
 Alcuin.Ep  114 (p. 167 line 8)
 Lull.Ep.T125   
 Alcuin.Carm.2  1
 Alcuin.Carm.2  1

Bishop (9)

 Anon.VitAlcuini  8
 Alcuin.VersEubor  1396-7
 Lull.Ep.T125   
 Anon.EpisList1    (bishop of York)
 Anon.EpisList2    (bishop of the church of York)
 Anon.EpisList3    (bishop of the church of York)
 Anon.EpisList4    (bishop of Ripon)
 WilliamofMalmesbury.GestaPontificumAnglorum  iii.113.1
 NorthernAnnals.FirstSet  46

Deacon (1)

 Alcuin.VersEubor  1423

Minister (1)

 Alcuin.VersEubor  1521

Priest (2)

 Alcuin.VersEubor  1425
 Alcuin.VersEubor  1427

Occupation (17)

Teacher (17)

 Alcuin.VersEubor  1427
 Alcuin.VersEubor  1431
 Alcuin.VersEubor  1452
 Alcuin.VersEubor  1515-16
 Alcuin.VersEubor  1515-16
 Alcuin.VersEubor  1567
 Alcuin.VersEubor  1575
 Alcuin.Epitaph.2  Line 3
 Alcuin.Ep  114 (p. 167 line 8)
 Alcuin.Ep  116
 Alcuin.Ep  116
 Alcuin.Ep  121 (p. 177 line 5)
 Alcuin.Ep  148 (p. 239 line 28)
 Alcuin.Ep  233
 Alcuin.Ep  271
 Alcuin.Ep  143 (p. 224 line 20)
 Alcuin.Ep  112

Status (1)

Puer (1)

 Alcuin.VersEubor  1420

Personal Relationship (20)

Æthelberht 8 Beloved (General relationship) of ~ (1)

 of Lull 1: Lull.Ep.T125   

Æthelberht 8 Brother (Honorific kinship) of ~ (1)

 of Lull 1: Lull.Ep.T125   

~ Brother (Honorific kinship) of Æthelberht 8 (1)

 Lull 1: of Æthelberht 8: Æthelberht Coena.Ep.T124   

Æthelberht 8 Companion (General relationship) of ~ (1)

 of Ecgberht 7: Alcuin.VersEubor  1428

Æthelberht 8 Disciple (General relationship) of ~ (1)

 of Lull 1: Lull.Ep.T125   

Æthelberht 8 Father (Honorific kinship) of ~ (4)

 of Alcuin 1: Anon.VitAlcuini  7
 of Eanbald 1: Alcuin.VersEubor  1518
 of Alcuin 1: Alcuin.VersEubor  1575
 of Alcuin 1: Alcuin.Epitaph.2  Line 12

~ Father (Honorific kinship) of Æthelberht 8 (1)

 Lull 1: of Æthelberht 8: Æthelberht Coena.Ep.T124   

~ Friend (General relationship) of Æthelberht 8 (1)

 Lull 1: of Æthelberht 8: Æthelberht Coena.Ep.T124   

Æthelberht 8 Kinsman (Generic kinship) of ~ (1)

 of Ecgberht 7: Alcuin.VersEubor  1429

~ Member of retinue (General relationship) of Æthelberht 8 (1)

 Anonymi 1943: of Æthelberht 8: Alcuin.Ep  233

~ Parent (Consanguineal kinship) of Æthelberht 8 (1)

 Anonymi 1125: of Æthelberht 8: Alcuin.VersEubor  1419

Æthelberht 8 Predecessor (General relationship) of ~ (1)

 of Eanbald 2: Alcuin.Ep  232

~ Son (Honorific kinship) of Æthelberht 8 (2)

 Alcuin 1: of Æthelberht 8: Anon.VitAlcuini  7
 Alcuin 1: of Æthelberht 8: Alcuin.VersEubor  1527

Æthelberht 8 Successor (General relationship) of ~ (1)

 of Ecgberht 7: Alcuin.VersEubor  1396-7

~ Successor (General relationship) of Æthelberht 8 (2)

 Eanbald 1: of Æthelberht 8: Anon.VitAlcuini  9
 Eanbald 1: of Æthelberht 8: NorthernAnnals.FirstSet  50

Possession (2)

 members of his retinue (Anonymi 1943): Alcuin.Ep  233

Event (46)

Appointment - ecclesiastical (1)

 Æthelberht 8.appointment as teacher in York: Ecgberht 7 appointed Æthelberht 8 as a teacher in York.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1431

Appointment/consecration/elevation/ordination of archbishop (2)

 Æthelberht 8.death: In 780 Archbishop Æthelberht 8 departed from this life, having in his lifetime consecrated Eanbald 1 to the same see.: NorthernAnnals.FirstSet  50 (780)
 Æthelberht 8.elevation to archbishopric: Æthelberht 8 became archbishop at the request of the people.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1466-8

Appointment/consecration/elevation/ordination of bishop (4)

 Eanbald 1.episcopal consecration: Eanbald 1 had previously been consecrated in place of Æthelberht 8.: ASC (DEF)  779 DEF(OE and Lat.) (779 x 780)
 Æthelberht 8-Ealhmund 5.consecration: In 767 Æthelberht 8, bishop of the city of York, and Ealhmund 5, bishop of Hexham, were consecrated on 24 April. : NorthernAnnals.FirstSet  46 (767)
 Æthelberht 8.episcopal consecration: Æthelberht 8 was consecrated to York.: ASC (DEF)  766 DEF(OE) (766)
 Æthelberht 8.succession to Ecgberht 7 as bishop: Æthelberht 8 succeeded Ecgberht 7 as bishop.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1396-7

Appointment/consecration/elevation/ordination of deacon (1)

 Æthelberht 8.elevation to diaconate: Æthelberht 8 was made a deacon at the appropriate time.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1423

Appointment/consecration/elevation/ordination of priest (1)

 Æthelberht 8.elevation to the priesthood: In adulthood as an upright person Æthelberht 8 entered the priesthood.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1425

Assembly (1)

 Æthelberht 8.burial: A large number of people attended the burial of Æthelberht 8.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1586-8

Bequeathing/will-making (1)

 Æthelberht 8.bequest of his wealth: Æthelberht 8 left his wealth to Eanbald 1 and Alcuin 1.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1526-62

Blessing (1)

 Æthelberht 8.blessing of Alcuin 1: Æthelberht 8 blessed Alcuin 1 with the blessings of his fathers mentioned above and commended him to Jesus Christ.: Anon.VitAlcuini  8

Book circulating/making/reading/translating/writing (5)

 Alcuin 1.letter to Charlemagne 1 asking permission for books from Britain: Alcuin 1 asked permission of Charlemagne 1 for boys to be sent to Britain to obtain books for Tours.: Alcuin.Ep  121
 Alcuin 1.reading of the Gospel of John before Æthelberht 8 and his fellow students (Anonymi 514): Alcuin 1 was reading John 13:23 - 18:1 before Æthelberht 8 and Anonymi 514 when he had a vision.: Anon.VitAlcuini  7
 Lull 1.letter to Æthelberht 8: Lull 1 wrote to Æthelberht 8 to ask for his continuous prayers. He sent him some little gifts and asked for some works of Bede 1's.: Lull.Ep.T125    ([767] x [778])
 Æthelberht 8-Alcuin 1.copying of books: Æthelberht 8 and Alcuin 1 had copied books at York.: Alcuin.Ep  121 (p. 177 lines 4-6)
 Æthelberht 8.letter to Lull 1: Æthelberht 8 thanked Lull 1 for his letter and asked to be remembered in his prayers. Concerning certain books Lull 1 had enquired about, he said he only had some very difficult ones and had sofar been unable to procure copyists: Æthelberht Coena.Ep.T124    ([767] x [778])

Burial (1)

 Æthelberht 8.burial: A large number of people attended the burial of Æthelberht 8.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1586-8

Church-adornment (1)

 Æthelberht 8.gifts to churches: Æthelberht 8 added ornaments with varied beauty to the churches.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1488-9

Church/monastery/minster foundation/dedication/restoration (2)

 Æthelberht 8.consecration of new basilica at York: Æthelberht 8 consecrated the new church to the Holy Wisdom nine days before he died.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1507-8, 1518-20
 Æthelberht 8.erection of new basilica at York: Æthelberht 8 erected a new basilica.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1507-18

Commemoration of the dead (1)

 Lull 1.Æthelberht 8.remembrance of dead: Lull 1 sent Æthelberht 8 a list of names of brethren and friends who had recently died, commending them for prayers.: Lull.Ep.T125    ([767] x [778])

Conversation (1)

 Æthelberht 8.comments to Alcuin 1: Alcuin 1's teacher [sc. Æthelberht 8] frequently used to say to him that the wisest men were those who had found the philosophic arts in the natures of things.: Alcuin.Ep  148 (p. 239 lines 28-9)

Correspondence (3)

 Alcuin 1.letter to Charlemagne 1 asking permission for books from Britain: Alcuin 1 asked permission of Charlemagne 1 for boys to be sent to Britain to obtain books for Tours.: Alcuin.Ep  121
 Lull 1.letter to Æthelberht 8: Lull 1 wrote to Æthelberht 8 to ask for his continuous prayers. He sent him some little gifts and asked for some works of Bede 1's.: Lull.Ep.T125    ([767] x [778])
 Æthelberht 8.letter to Lull 1: Æthelberht 8 thanked Lull 1 for his letter and asked to be remembered in his prayers. Concerning certain books Lull 1 had enquired about, he said he only had some very difficult ones and had sofar been unable to procure copyists: Æthelberht Coena.Ep.T124    ([767] x [778])

Death/dying (1)

 Æthelberht 8.death: In 780 Archbishop Æthelberht 8 departed from this life, having in his lifetime consecrated Eanbald 1 to the same see.: NorthernAnnals.FirstSet  50 (780)

Dreaming/seeing vision/revelation (2)

 Alcuin 1.mystic vision of the precincts encircled by blood: Alcuin 1 had a vision of the precincts encircled by blood.: Anon.VitAlcuini  7
 Alcuin 1.reading of the Gospel of John before Æthelberht 8 and his fellow students (Anonymi 514): Alcuin 1 was reading John 13:23 - 18:1 before Æthelberht 8 and Anonymi 514 when he had a vision.: Anon.VitAlcuini  7

Education/teaching (4)

 Æthelberht 8.comments to Alcuin 1: Alcuin 1's teacher [sc. Æthelberht 8] frequently used to say to him that the wisest men were those who had found the philosophic arts in the natures of things.: Alcuin.Ep  148 (p. 239 lines 28-9)
 Æthelberht 8.curriculum taught in York: Æthelberht 8 taught a variety of subjects in York.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1434
 Æthelberht 8.instruction of Alcuin 1: Æthelberht 8 taught Alcuin 1 when he was young.: Alcuin.Carm.2  5-6
 Æthelberht 8.teaching of pupils: By means of the Scriptures Æthelberht 8 taught various arts to several pupils whom he held to be talented (Anonymi 1099).: Alcuin.VersEubor  1449-53

Grant and Gift (4)

 Lull 1.letter to Æthelberht 8: Lull 1 wrote to Æthelberht 8 to ask for his continuous prayers. He sent him some little gifts and asked for some works of Bede 1's.: Lull.Ep.T125    ([767] x [778])
 Lull 1.sending a pall to Æthelberht 8: He sent Æthelberht 8 a pall all of silk: Lull.Ep.T125    ([767] x [778])
 Æthelberht 8.gifts to church at York: Æthelberht 8 gave various gifts to the church of York.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1490-1506
 Æthelberht 8.gifts to churches: Æthelberht 8 added ornaments with varied beauty to the churches.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1488-9

Journey (4)

 Alcuin 1.letter to Charlemagne 1 asking permission for books from Britain: Alcuin 1 asked permission of Charlemagne 1 for boys to be sent to Britain to obtain books for Tours.: Alcuin.Ep  121
 Æthelberht 8-Alcuin 1.journeys to Rome and Francia: Æthelberht 8 went to Rome and also to the kingdoms of the Franks, accompanied by Alcuin 1.: Alcuin.Carm.2  7-12
 Æthelberht 8.journey to Rome and kingdoms of the Franks: He [sc. Æthelberht 8] sought the city of Rome and the kingdoms of the Franks.: Alcuin.Epitaph.2  Lines 9-10
 Æthelberht 8.return journey to homeland: Æthelberht 8 returned from his pilgrimage to serve his fatherland.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1460-5

Judicial decision/review (1)

 Æthelberht 8.pursuit of justice: Those unwilling to follow his preaching (Anonymi 1127) Æthelberht 8 pursued with the law, including kings and rulers.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1477-9

Monastic life, converting to/joining/oblation (1)

 Æthelberht 8.given in boyhood by parents (Anonymi 1125) to monasterium: His parents (Anonymi 1125) gave Æthelberht 8 in boyhood to a monasterium.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1416-18

Pallium-despatch/receipt/request (1)

 Æthelberht 8.receipt of pallium: In 773 Æthelberht 8, the bishop of the church of York, received the ministry of the pallium, sent to him by Pope Hadrian 3.: NorthernAnnals.FirstSet  47 (773)

Pastoral activities/preaching (1)

 Æthelberht 8.pursuit of justice: Those unwilling to follow his preaching (Anonymi 1127) Æthelberht 8 pursued with the law, including kings and rulers.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1477-9

Pilgrimage (1)

 Æthelberht 8.pilgrimages to various places including Rome: Æthelberht 8 travelled on foreign pilgrimages, including to Rome.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1454-9

Prophecy (3)

 Æthelberht 8.prophecies made in presence of Eanbald 2: Prophecies that Eanbald 2 had often heard from Æthelberht 8 were rapidly becoming true.: Alcuin.Ep  116
 Æthelberht 8.prophecy about Alcuin 1: Æthelberht 8 prophesied to Alcuin 1 what he would do after Æthelberht 8 died.: Anon.VitAlcuini  8
 Æthelberht 8.prophecy to Alcuin 1 about Sigulf 2: Æthelberht 8 told Alcuin 1 to tell what he had seen to only a single person, who after his death would be forbidden from keeping a secret about Alcuin 1.: Anon.VitAlcuini  7

Request (2)

 Alcuin 1.letter to Charlemagne 1 asking permission for books from Britain: Alcuin 1 asked permission of Charlemagne 1 for boys to be sent to Britain to obtain books for Tours.: Alcuin.Ep  121
 Lull 1.letter to Æthelberht 8: Lull 1 wrote to Æthelberht 8 to ask for his continuous prayers. He sent him some little gifts and asked for some works of Bede 1's.: Lull.Ep.T125    ([767] x [778])

Resigning of episcopal office (1)

 Æthelberht 8.retirement: Æthelberht 8 retired to a solitary life, giving his episcopal powers to Eanbald 1.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1521-5

Retirement (1)

 Æthelberht 8.retirement: Æthelberht 8 retired to a solitary life, giving his episcopal powers to Eanbald 1.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1521-5

Solitary life, choosing; becoming anchorite/hermit (1)

 Æthelberht 8.retirement: Æthelberht 8 retired to a solitary life, giving his episcopal powers to Eanbald 1.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1521-5

Visit (2)

 Alcuin 1.visit to the monks of St Leodgar’s, Murbach (Anonymi 1950): Alcuin 1 visited the monks of St Leodgar's (Anonymi 1950).: Alcuin.Ep  271
 Æthelberht 8.visit to monks of St Leodgar’s, Murbach (Anonymi 1950): Æthelberht 8 visited St Leodgar's.: Alcuin.Ep  271

Factoids linked indirectly to Æthelberht 8 (15)

Education (7)

 Anonymi 1098: Æthelberht 8 often filled the senses of Anonymi 1098 with nectar.: Alcuin.VersEubor  1409-10
 Anonymi 1099: They were pupils in various arts: Alcuin.VersEubor  1453
 Alcuin 1: Here [sc. in York] he [sc.Æthelberht 8] first imbued my tender years with the liberal arts by teaching my restless mind.: Alcuin.Epitaph.2  Lines 5-6
 Alcuin 1: pupil of Ælberht: Alcuin.Ep  112
 Alcuin 1: Alcuin 1 was the sole surviving member of [Æthelberht 8's] school.: Alcuin.Ep  112
 Alcuin 1: Eanbald 2 was working in place of Alcuin 1 in the church where the latter was brought up and taught, Æthelberht 8 being his master.: Alcuin.Ep  114
 Eanbald 1: pupil of Ælberht: Alcuin.Ep  112

Authorship (1)

Lull 1:  Author of a letter to Æthelberht 8 (Letter): Æthelberht Coena.Ep.T124   

Occupation (7)

Household manager of Æthelberht 8 (1)

 Anonymi 1945: Alcuin.Ep  233

Pupil of Æthelberht 8 (6)

 Anonymi 514: Anon.VitAlcuini  7
 Alcuin 1: Alcuin.VersEubor  1515
 Anonymi 1099: Alcuin.VersEubor  1453
 Anonymi 1128: Alcuin.VersEubor  1567
 Eanbald 1: Alcuin.VersEubor  1515
 Eanbald 1: Alcuin.Ep  112