John of Garland

English grammarian and poet
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

Also known as: Johannes de Garlandia
Quick Facts
Also called:
Johannes de Garlandia
Born:
c. 1180, England
Died:
c. 1252
Also Known As:
Johannes de Garlandia
Notable Works:
“De triumphis ecclesiae”
Subjects Of Study:
Latin language
grammar

John of Garland (born c. 1180, England—died c. 1252) was an English grammarian and poet whose writings were important in the development of medieval Latin. Though much of his life was spent in France, his works were influential mainly in England.

Garland went to Paris (1202) to complete his studies and remained there as a teacher until 1229, when he went to the University of Toulouse. He fled Toulouse, however, in 1232 or 1233 because of conflicts ensuing from the defeat of the heretical Cathari, or Albigenses.

Among his grammatical works were Compendium grammatice (“Outline of Grammar”), Liber de constructionibus (“Book on Constructions”), and a Latin vocabulary. Two of his best-known poems are De triumphis ecclesiae (“On the Triumphs of the Church”), which gives a detailed account of the crusade against the Cathari, and Epithalamium beatae Mariae Virginis (“Bridal Song of the Blessed Virgin Mary”).

Illustration of "The Lamb" from "Songs of Innocence" by William Blake, 1879. poem; poetry
Britannica Quiz
A Study of Poetry
This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.