Hwætberht facts for kids
Hwætberht was an important leader of a monastery called Monkwearmouth-Jarrow Priory a long time ago. He was an abbot, which is like the head of a monastery. He lived in England and died around the 740s.
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Who Was Hwætberht?
Hwætberht was a monk at Monkwearmouth-Jarrow Priory. This was a famous monastery in England. He became the abbot in 716 or 717. He took over after the previous abbot, Ceolfrith, left. Ceolfrith was going on a special journey called a pilgrimage to Rome.
A Journey for Knowledge
Hwætberht himself had also made a pilgrimage to Rome. He stayed there for a long time. He wanted to learn new things. He copied down important texts for his studies. This happened when Pope Sergius I was the Pope, between 687 and 701.
Friends with Bede
Hwætberht was highly respected by Bede. Bede was a very famous scholar and monk from the same monastery. Bede even dedicated one of his important books to Hwætberht. This book was called De temporum ratione, which means The Reckoning of Time.
A Request from Saint Boniface
A letter from Saint Boniface to Hwætberht still exists today. Saint Boniface was another important church leader. This letter was written around 747. This tells us that Hwætberht died sometime after that year. In the letter, Boniface asked Hwætberht for a special favor. He wanted Hwætberht to send him some of Bede's writings. Boniface called Bede "that profound student of the Scriptures." He also asked for a cloak, saying it would help him on his journeys. In return, Boniface sent Hwætberht a "coverlet" made of goat hair.
A Mystery: The Riddles
During Hwætberht's time, the remains of two earlier abbots, Sigfrith and Eosterwine, were reburied. They were placed next to Benedict Biscop near the main altar at Monkwearmouth.
Bede sometimes called Hwætberht by another name, Eusebius. Because of this, some people think Hwætberht might have written a collection of sixty Latin riddles. These riddles are known as the Enigmata Eusebii. They were written as extra riddles to forty riddles written earlier by Tatwine, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury.
