ALEXANDER OF VILLEDIEU

(ca. 1170-ca. 1250)

French grammarian whoseDoctrinale(1199) became the standard textbook of Latin grammar in medievaluniversities. This collection of doggerel Latin verses became an object of contempt amonghumanisteducational reformers who sought to introduce a moreclassicalstyle of Latin. In most places, its replacement by a recent humanistic grammar based on the practices of the best classical authors was a major step toward the new educational program of the Renaissance.