“The first member of the Aachen Society” was the intriguing title of a talk by George Keith to the August meeting of the Halifax Aachen Society. He revealed that Alcuin, a 9th century deacon, scholar and poet at York Cathedral has a strong claim to this position.
After a distinguished career in York he became a leading teacher at Charlemagne’s court in Aachen in 782AD where he developed a close working relationship with Charlemagne himself, the warrior ruler of an empire covering western Europe.
Alcuin went on to become Abbot of Tours whilst Charlemagne was crowned Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by the Pope in 800AD.
Geoff Barnes, Publicity Officer
