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Sylvester II, originally Gerbert of Aurillac c.940-1003
French pope

Born in Aurillac, he became abbot of Bobbio (982) and Archbishop of Ravenna (988), and as pope (from 999) upheld the primacy of Rome against the separatist tendencies of the French Church. His erudition in chemistry, mathematics and philosophy led people to suspect him of being in league with the devil. He is said to have introduced Arabic numerals and to have invented clocks.

Bibliography: Harriett Lattin, The Peasant Boy Who Became Pope (1958)