SOURCE: Alberi, Mary. “‘The Better Paths of Wisdom’: Alcuin's Monastic ‘True Philosophy’ and the Worldly Court.” Speculum 76, no. 4 (October 2001): 896-910.

In the following essay, Alberi discusses how Alcuin attempted to follow his “true philosophy” as a monk while serving in the court of Charlemagne.

During his years in the Frankish kingdom Alcuin often experienced conflict between his desire for a monastic life and the obligations of service to Charlemagne. In 802-3, when Arno of Salzburg complained that the duties of an imperial missus interfered with his pastoral responsibilities, Alcuin could not find a satisfactory solution to his friend's predicament. In Alcuin's opinion, the burdens of royal service prevented too many clergy from preaching; wordly ambition so corrupted others that they took bribes or involved themselves in simony, like powerful laymen. Alcuin hoped his commentary on Ecclesiastes would console Arno with its lessons on the transitory nature of all...