Four fourteenth-century Augustinian authors.
The previous four Augnet pages refer constantly to four particular fourteenth-century Augustinians.
They are the Anonymous Florentine (an Augustinian Prior at Santo Spirito, Florence in 1317, and writing in 1330), Nicholas of Alessandria O.S.A. (a Master of Theology in 1333), Henry of Friemar O.S.A. (1245 – c. 1334), and Jordan of Saxony O.S.A. (alias Jordan of Quedlinburg O.S.A.), who lived c. 1299 – c.1380.
This page asks if these Augustinians knew each other, and or even if possibly they met one another.
Seeing the Anonymous Florentine, Nicholas of Alessandria and Henry of Friemar wrote within approximately four years of each other in 1330, 1332 and 1334 respectively, what is the chance that they met?
The Anonymous Florentine was – probably in the year 1330 - the author of Initium sive processus Ordinis Hermitarum santi Augustini (“The Beginning and Development of the Order of Hermits of Saint Augustine”).
There is nothing to suggest that the Anonymous Florentine met the other two Augustinians mentioned, but it is difficult to investigate the matter in the absence of even the former Augustinian’s name.
From the writing of the other three, it is evident, however, that they were familiar with the writing of the Anonymous Florentine.
In contrast, it is highly probable, however that Nicholas of Alessandria and Henry of Friemar met, even if there was as much as fifty years’ difference in their age.
Henry has been a student of the Order in his late adolescence in 1264, which was just eight years after its Grand Union.
Especially as a former Provincial and a General Chapter delegate Henry would have known first-hand many of the twelve
Augustinians who were Priors General between 1256 and the time of his possible meeting with Nicholas of Alessandria at Paris in 1329.
(Continued on the next page.)
Photos (at right).
Picture 1: Student of the Escolania (choir school) of the Escorial, Spain.
Picture 2: Students of Colegio de Alfonso XII, Escorial, Spain.
Picture 3: Augustinian Director (headmaster) of Colegio de Alfonso XII.
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