Paul The Deacon

c.720-800. Italian chronicler, known also as “Paulus Levita” and “Warnefridi.” He was called “the Deacon” from 782 onward. After an excellent education he became the tutor of Adelperga, daughter of King Desiderius. Then he was a member for a brief period of the Benedictine monastery of St. Peter at Civate before settling at Monte Cassino Monastery. In 782 he visited Charlemagne and remained in Francia for four years, writing the history of the diocese of Metz. After his return to Monte Cassino he wrote the famous Historia Gentis Langobardorum (History of the Lombard People), which was translated and published at Philadelphia in 1907 by W.D. Foulke. He wrote also a history of Rome, Historia Romana, which continued the Breviarium of Eutropius, an exposition of the Rule of St. Benedict, and various poems, biographies, and liturgical pieces.