Rabanus Magnentius Maurus (c. 776–856)

German Benedictine scholar and prelate. He studied at Tours, France, under the English scholar under Alcuin, returning to Fulda in Hesse in 804, where he founded the first public monastic school in Germany. He was made abbot (822–42), and became archbishop of Mentz (Mainz) in 847. Rabanus wrote commentaries on the Bible, martyrologies, homilies and poetry. The Veni Creator Spiritus is often attributed to him. He was born in Mainz, Germany, of French parentage.