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Vincent of Beauvais
(c. 1190—1264)
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(c.1194–1264),
author of the vast popular encyclopedia, the Speculum Maius. A Dominican, he may have been associated with the foundation of the Order's house at Beauvais in 1225; he was subprior there in 1246. Later in 1246 he was appointed lector to the Cistercian abbey of Royaumont, near Paris, where he came into close contact with Louis IX. The Speculum Maius, conceived and partly written by c.1244, was envisaged as a two-part compendium. It developed as Vincent collected material, and was completed c.1259 in three sections, the Speculum Naturale, the Speculum Doctrinale, and the Speculum Historiale. A supposed fourth part, the Speculum Morale, is not authentic.
Subjects: History — Early history (500 CE to 1500)
