Smaragdus, Ardo

Title:

Alternate names/spellings: Ardo of Aniane

Dates: 843 - 843 (Dates are approximate. ) 

Ardo Smaragdus (died March 843 AD) was a hagiographer. He entered the monastery of Aniane, in Hérault, as a boy, and was brought up by Saint Benedict of Aniane. He was ordained a priest and made head of the monastery school. In 794, he accompanied Benedict to the Council of Frankfurt, and in 814, he replaced Benedict as abbot after the latter joined the imperial court at Aix-la-Chapelle. Smaragdus wrote a life of St. Benedict of Aniane in 822, and was himself honored as a saint at his monastery after his death. He is best known for his work The Life of Benedict of Aniane and he traveled with Benedict extensively, serving as his secretary.