Italy,[432] a brief sketch of this unique
character is proper. Born of humble parents,[433] this remarkable man
became the counselor and companion of kings, and finally wore the papal
tiara as Sylvester II, from 999 until his death in 1003.[434] He was early
brought under the influence of the monks at Aurillac, and particularly of
Raimund, who had been a pupil of Odo of Cluny, and there in due time he
himself took holy orders. He visited Spain in about 967 in company with
Count Borel,[435] remaining there three years, {111} and studying under
Bishop Hatto of Vich,[436] a city in the province of Barcelona,[437] then
entirely under Christian rule. Indeed, all of Gerbert's testimony is as to
the influence of the Christian civilization upon his education. Thus he
speaks often of his study of Boethius,[438] so that if the latter knew the
numerals Gerbert would have learned them from him.[439] If Gerbert had
studied in any Moorish schools he would, under the decree of the emir
Hish[=a]m (787-822), have been obliged to know Arabic, which would have
taken most of his three years in Spain, and of which study we have not the
slightest hint in any of his letters.[440] On the other hand, Barcelona was
the only Christian province in immediate touch with the Moorish
civilization at that time.[441] Furthermore we know that earlier in the
same century King Alonzo of Asturias (d. 910) confided the education of his
son Ordono to the Arab scholars of the court of the {112} w[=a]l[=i] of
Saragossa,[442] so that there was more or less of friendly relation between
Christian and Moor.

After his three years in Spain, Gerbert went to Italy, about 970, where he
met Pope John XIII, being by him presented to the emperor Otto I. Two years
later (972), at the emperor's request, he went to Rheims, where he studied
philosophy, assisting to make of that place an educational center; and in
983 he became abbot at Bobbio. The next year he returned to Rheims, and
became archbishop of that diocese in 991. For political reasons he returned
to Italy in 996, became archbishop of Ravenna in 998, and the following
year was elected to the papal chair. Far ahead of his age in wisdom, he
suffered as many such scholars have even in times not so remote by being
accused of heresy and witchcraft. As late as 1522, in a biography published
at Venice, it is related that by black art he attained the papacy, after
having given his soul to the devil.[443] Gerbert was, however