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Who he was
Gerbert of Aurillac, born of humble parents, trained as a monk at Aurillac and studied mathematics and science in Spain before becoming a famous teacher at the cathedral school of Reims. After a disputed spell as Archbishop of Reims he became tutor to Otto III and then Archbishop of Ravenna. With the emperor's support he was elected pope in 999, the first Frenchman to hold the office.
What he is remembered for
He worked against simony and clerical marriage, set up archbishoprics for Poland at Gniezno and for Hungary at Esztergom, and in the year 1000 granted the title of king to the ruler of Hungary. One of the most learned men of his age, he wrote on mathematics, science and the Eucharist and is credited with helping bring Arabic numerals to Western Europe; his learning even gave rise to popular legends that he was a magician. He is one of the better-known popes of his century.
Sources
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