Writer Biographies

Modern era

Banjo Paterson

February 17, 1864 – February 5, 1941

Australian journalist, author and poet (1864 - 1941)

Medieval era

Dunstan

909 CE – May 19, 988 CE

Archbishop of Canterbury and saint

Caedmon

d. 680 CE

Ancient English poet

Medieval era

Augustine of Canterbury

c. 550 CE – c. 605 CE

6th-century missionary, archbishop, and saint

Medieval era

William Caxton

1422 – 1491

English merchant and printer (c. 1422–c. 1491)

Medieval era

Gerald of Wales

1146 – c. 1220

Medieval clergyman and historian

Contemporary era

Michael Scot

1951 – August 12, 2018

Scottish writer (1951–2018)

Ancient era

Brendan the Navigator

486 CE – 577 CE

Irish monastic saint

Medieval era

Charles the Bald

June 13, 823 CE – October 6, 877 CE

King of West Francia from 843 to 877 and Carolingian Emperor from 875 to 877

Medieval era

Alfonso X of Castile

November 23, 1221 – April 4, 1284

King of Castile from 1252 to 1284

Medieval era

Afonso Henriques

July 25, 1109 – December 6, 1185

King of Portugal from 1139 to 1185

Wallada bint al-Mustakfi

d. March 26, 1091

Al-Andalus poet

Medieval era

Ibn Tufail

1110 – 1185

Arab Muslim polymath (c. 1105–1185)

Medieval era

Guido Cavalcanti

1258 – August 29, 1300

Italian poet (1258-1300)

Medieval era

Brunetto Latini

1220 – 1294

Italian scholar and statesman, c. 1220–1294

Medieval era

Marsilius of Padua

1275 – 1342

Italian philosopher (1275–1342)

Beatriz Galindo

d. November 23, 1535

Spanish educator and writer

Medieval era

Ausias March

1400 – March 3, 1459

Valencian poet and knight

Medieval era

Joanot Martorell

1413 – 1465

Valencian knight

Medieval era

Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor

955 CE – December 7, 983 CE

Holy Roman Emperor from 973 to 983 and King of Italy from 980 to 983

Medieval era

Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor

980 CE – January 24, 1002

Holy Roman Emperor from 996 to 1002

Medieval era

Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor

November 11, 1050 – August 7, 1106

Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 to 1105

Medieval era

Lothair I

795 CE – September 29, 855 CE

Emperor of the Carolingian Empire from 817 to 855

Medieval era

Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor

October 28, 1016 – October 5, 1056

Holy Roman Emperor

Medieval era

Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor

November 1, 1165 – September 28, 1197

Holy Roman Emperor from 1191 to 1197

Medieval era

Conradin

March 25, 1252 – October 29, 1268

Duke of Swabia, King of Jerusalem and King of Sicily (1252–1268)

Medieval era

Peter III of Aragon

1239 – 1285

King of Aragon and Valencia (1276–85); King of Sicily (1282–85)

Medieval era

Peter Chelcicky

1390 – 1460

15th century Bohemian Christian radical

Medieval era

Saint Cyril

827 CE – February 14, 869 CE

Christian missionary to the Slavs (9th c.)

Medieval era

Saint Methodius

815 CE – April 6, 885 CE

Christian missionary to the Slavs

Ancient era

Pope Leo I

390 CE – November 11, 461 CE

Pope from 440 to 461 (390–461)

Medieval era

Pope Gregory VII

c. 1020 – May 25, 1085

Pope of the Catholic Church from 1073 to 1085

Medieval era

Pope Innocent III

February 22, 1160 – July 16, 1216

Head of the Catholic Church from 1198 to 1216

Medieval era

Pope Boniface VIII

1235 – October 11, 1303

Pope of the Catholic Church from 1294 to 1303

Medieval era

Alcuin

724 CE – May 19, 804 CE

8th-century Northumbrian scholar, clergyman, poet, and teacher

Medieval era

Isidore of Seville

560 CE – April 4, 636 CE

Hispano-Roman scholar, theologian and bishop (c. 560–636)

Medieval era

Columbanus

540 CE – November 23, 615 CE

Irish missionary and saint (540-615)

Medieval era

Cuthbert

635 CE – March 20, 687 CE

7th-century Anglo-Saxon bishop, monk, hermit and saint (635–687)

Medieval era

Adalbert of Prague

956 CE – April 23, 997 CE

Bohemian missionary and saint (c.956–997)

Medieval era

John of Damascus

675 CE – December 4, 749 CE

Christian monk, priest, hymnographer and apologist (675/6-749)

Medieval era

Albertus Magnus

1193 – 1280

German-Dominican friar and saint (c. 1200–1280)

Medieval era

Duns Scotus

1265 – November 8, 1308

Priest, friar, philosopher, theologian, college teacher

Medieval era

Pico della Mirandola

February 24, 1463 – November 17, 1494

Italian Renaissance philosopher (1463–1494)

Medieval era

Bridget of Sweden

1303 – July 23, 1373

Swedish nun, mystic, and saint (c.1303–1373)

Medieval era

Margery Kempe

b. 1373

British Christian mystic and author

Medieval era

Pope Formosus

816 CE – April 4, 896 CE

Pope

Medieval era

Solomon ibn Gabirol

1021 – 1058

11th-century Andalusian poet and Jewish philosopher

Medieval era

Benjamin of Tudela

1130 – 1174

Jewish explorer and writer

Medieval era

Gildas

500 CE – January 29, 570 CE

6th-century British monk, writer and saint

Medieval era

Paul the Deacon

720 CE – 799 CE

8th century Benedictine monk, scribe and historian

Medieval era

Liutprand of Cremona

c. 922 CE – 972 CE

Italian historian, diplomat, and Bishop of Cremona (920-972)

Medieval era

Adam of Bremen

c. 1100 – c. 1085

11th-century German historian and chronicler

Medieval era

William of Tyre

1130 – 1186

Medieval prelate and chronicler, archbishop of Tyre

Medieval era

Michael Psellos

1018 – 1078

11th-century Byzantine monk, writer and court official

Medieval era

John Scotus Eriugena

c. 800 CE – 877 CE

Irish Catholic philosopher and theologian (c. 800 – c. 877)

Medieval era

Lorenzo Valla

1407 – August 1, 1457

Italian Renaissance humanist (c. 1407–1457)

Medieval era

Leonardo Bruni

1369 – 1444

Italian humanist historian (c. 1370–1444)

Medieval era

Manuel Chrysoloras

1350 – September 15, 1415

Byzantine Greek scholar, diplomat, and professor (c. 1350–1415)

Medieval era

Gerard of Cremona

1114 – 1187

Italian translator and astrologer (c. 1114 – 1187)

Medieval era

Vincent of Beauvais

1190 – 1264

13th century French encyclopedist