Anselm of Canterbury
c. 1033 – 21 April 1109
Anselm of Canterbury (c. 1033-1109) was a Benedictine monk, philosopher, and theologian who served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1093 until his death. He is regarded as the father of scholasticism and is famous for the ontological argument for the existence of God in his Proslogion and for the satisfaction theory of atonement in Cur Deus Homo. His tenure at Canterbury was marked by conflicts with the English kings over church rights, leading to two exiles.
Lived at the same time
Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Anselm of Canterbury.
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Life events
Anselm was born around 1033-1034 in Aosta, in the Alps of present-day northern Italy, to a noble family.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAfter leaving home and crossing the Alps, Anselm joined the abbey of Bec, drawn by the reputation of its prior Lanfranc, and became a monk around 1060.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAnselm succeeded Lanfranc as prior of Bec, teaching and writing there for fifteen years.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAnselm composed the Monologion, a meditation on the divine essence argued by reason alone.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgIn the Proslogion Anselm set out his famous argument that God, as that than which nothing greater can be conceived, must exist.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgOn the death of the founder Herluin, Anselm was elected abbot of Bec, which flourished under his leadership.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAfter a long vacancy of the see, Anselm was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury under King William II.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgIn conflict with William II over church rights, Anselm left England for Rome and completed his treatise on the atonement, Cur Deus Homo, while in exile.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAnselm's refusal to accept lay investiture under King Henry I led to a second exile, resolved by the Concordat of London in 1107.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAnselm died on Holy Wednesday 1109 and was buried in Canterbury Cathedral; he was later venerated as a saint and Doctor of the Church.
Source: en.wikipedia.org