Isidore of Seville

Saint Isidore of Seville (560 - April 4, 636) was an archbishop and one of the great scholars of the early middle ages.

Born in Cartagena, Spain. His brother Leander immediately preceded him as archbishop of Seville. His younger brother was also a bishop, and their sister was a nun. He assisted Leander in the conversion of the Visigoth Arians. He also presided over the Synod of Seville (619), and the Fourth Council of Toledo (633).

His most important work was his encyclopedia, the Etymologiae, a work devoted to transmitting much of the learning of antiquity. The book not only was one of the most popular compendia in medieval libraries but was printed in at least 10 editions between 1470 and 1530, showing Isidore's continued popularity in the Renaissance. This work was much copied, paricularly in the medieval bestiary. His other works include his Chronica Majora, A History of the Goths, On the Nature of Things, and Questions on the Old Testament.

He was canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church in 1598 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1722.

See also: Cartographer

External link

The Etymologiæ are available at The Latin Library: http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/isidore.html