Honorius Augustodunensis

Who was Honorius Augustodunensis?

Honorius Augustodunensis, commonly known as Honorius of Autun, was a very popular 12th-century Christian theologian who wrote prolifically on many subjects. He wrote in a non-scholastic manner, with a lively style, and his works were approachable for the lay community in general. He was, therefore, something of a popularizer of clerical learning.

Very little is known of his life. He says that he is Honorius Augustodunensis ecclesiae presbyter et scholasticus, but nothing else is known. "Augustodunensis" was taken to mean Autun, but that identification is now generally rejected. However, there is no solid reasoning for any other identification, so his by-name has stuck. It is certain that he was a monk and that he travelled to England and was a student of Anselm's for some time. Toward the end of his life, he was in the Scots monastery in Regensburg in southern Germany, probably living as a recluse.

Among his works are:

⁕Elucidarium: a survey of Christian beliefs. It was translated frequently into vernacular.

⁕Sigillum sanctae Mariae: a set of lessons for how to celebrate the Assumption, together with a commentary on The Song of Songs, which he sees as being principally about Mary.