Notker Balbulus (the Stammerer), known also as Notker I and Notker Poeta, is not to be confused with Notker II, also called Notker Medicus or Physicus (the Doctor), who died in 975, or the illustrious Notker III, also called Notker Labeo (of the Lip) and Notker Teutonicus (the German), who died in 1022. Notker Balbulus wrote in Latin and is remembered for his contribution to the development of the medieval sequentia (sequence) genre. He also wrote chronicles and hymns.

Notker was born of a noble family in Elgg, Switzerland, not far from the monastery of Saint Gall, around 840. His father died young, and Notker was brought up by Adalbert, who had fought with Charlemagne's army against the Saxons and Slavs. At the age of five or six he was placed in the Saint Gall monastery for safekeeping and education. Notker's teacher in these early days was Werinbert, one of the...