JOHN GARLAND (1274)

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.
He went to Paris (1202) to complete his studies and remained as a teacher until 1229 when he went to the University of Toulouse.

He was compelled to flee in 1232 or 1233 because of conflicts between Roman Catholics and the heretical Cathari or Albigenses.

Among his grammatical works were Compendium grammatice (Gramatical Outline), Liber de constructionibus (Book on Constructions) and a Latin vocabulary. Two of his best known poems are De triumphis ecclesiae which gives a detailed account of the crusade against the Cathari and Epithalamium beatae Mariae Virginis, Scolarium morale covers topics such as general behaviour, table manners, virtue and the defense of the pope against charges of simony.