Ardo Smaragdus

Who was Ardo Smaragdus?

Ardo Smaragdus was a hagiographer. He entered the monastery of Aniane, in Hérault, as a boy, and was brought up by Saint Benedict of Aniane. He was ordained a priest and made head of the monastery school.

In 794, he accompanied Benedict to the Council of Frankfurt. and in 814, he replaced Benedict as abbot after the latter joined the imperial court at Aix-la-Chapelle.

Smaragdus wrote a life of St. Benedict of Aniane in 822, and was himself honored as a saint at his monastery after his death.