Bero Magni de Ludosia

[This article has been updated/rewritten in 2025 to incorporate current research. Please adjust citation accordingly.]

by Olle Ferm and Erika Kihlman; revised version 2025: Robert Andrews (Disputata super libros De anima and Disputata super libros De generatione et corruptione), and Erika Kihlman (Biography, Sermons and academic speeches, Commentaries on the Doctrinale and Verba communia)

Bero Magni (Björn Magnusson, Bero de Ludosia), born ca 1410, died 1465, was a member of the cathedral chapter at Skara and a canon at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna (from 1464). He was magister regens at the Faculty of Arts at the University of Vienna 1433–1465, and also taught at the Faculty of Theology in the 1440s. His extant works comprise commentaries on Aristotle and Latin grammar, academic speeches and sermons, and Verba communia, a metrical treatise on grammar.

Biography

Bero came from Old Lödöse (Ludosia) in the diocese of Skara. His exact date of birth is not known but it is reasonable to assume that he was ca 20 years old when he matriculated at the University of Vienna in 1429 and began his studies at the Faculty of Arts. He became baccalaureus artium in 1431, received his licentia docendi in 1433, and is listed as one of the magistri regentes of the Arts Faculty the same year. Concurrent with his teaching duties there he began studying at the Faculty of Theology in the 1430s. He became cursor biblicus in 1439, sententiarius in 1443, and is referred to as baccalaureus in theology in 1445 (an exact date for his examination is not known). He did not take the examination for the licentiate until May 1465. The promotion to doctor of theology was to follow shortly after, but Bero died before this took place.

During his career he acted as the examiner from the Saxon Nation several times. He was the dean of the Faculty of Arts in 1446, and is referred to as the prior of the Collegium ducale (the university residence for masters of arts and two doctors of theology) in 1448, which suggests that he had lived in the college for a number of years before this.

The records from the Faculty of Arts show that Bero lectured on several set texts of the general syllabus, but he seems to have preferred teaching logic and lecturing on Aristotle’s works: Ethica, Physica, Oeconomica, De anima, and De generatione et corruptione. His lectures on the last two are preserved, as are lectures on Book 1 of the Latin grammar Doctrinale by Alexander de Villa-Dei.

While in Vienna, Bero received financial support from the cathedral chapter at Skara. It is not known when this support began but he was already a canon with a prebend when he was elected Cathedral Dean by the Chapter in 1449. Although there is nothing to support that Bero ever returned to Skara, he was eventually elected Bishop of Skara, confirmed by Pope Pius II in 1462. His refusal to redeem the papal bull of appointment and to present himself for consecration resulted in his deposition, and a new bishop was appointed on 3 May 1465.

In January 1464 Bero was installed as canon in St Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, and a year later he could take over the residence from another canon. Bero’s name appears for the last time in the records of the Faculty of Theology for 8 June and it is probable that he died shortly after this date, as his successor as canon at St. Stephen’s was installed on 3 September 1465. 

During his time in Vienna, Bero acquired numerous books which were donated to Skara cathedral. An inventory of the donation was made sometime before 1477 and it lists 138 volumes, which makes Bero’s the largest private library known to have been owned by a Swede in the Middle Ages.

The data of Bero’s life have been gathered from Swedish charters and from the records of the University of Vienna (AFA, AFT, MUW). Biographies and/or studies of his library can be found in ASCHBACH 1865, 295, 526, CARLSSON 1918, CARLSSON 1922, KARLSSON 1905, and KIHLMAN 2011a and 2011b, with references to the records and the charters.

Works

The extant works of Bero comprise commentaries on Aristotle’s De anima and De generatione et corruptione, two sermons and two academic speeches, commentaries on Book 1 of Alexander de Villa-Dei’s Doctrinale, and the Verba communia, a metrical grammatical treatise.

Disputata super libros [Aristotelis] de anima

Reportationes of lectures held no later than 1437 (the manuscript was bought in that year, according to a note by the purchaser).

Incipit

Circa primum librum De anima quaeritur primo utrum anima sit subiectum in scientia libri De anima

Explicit

malos in Gehenna ignis perpetui, et bonos in vitam dei patris aeternam, ad quam nos perducat dominus deus per seculorum infinita secula benedictus. Amen.

Colophon

Expliciunt disputata super libros De anima Magistri Beronis de Ludosia.

Size

219 folia; 122,387 words; 420 pages in a modern edition.

Editions

Andrews, R. (ed.) forthcoming, Bero Magni de Ludosia: Disputata super libros De anima. Bibliotheca Philosophorum Suecorum Medii Aevi. Stockholm.

Summary of contents

Analysed in detail in ANDREWS 2016.

Book I q. 5 analysed in ANDREWS 2017.

Bero Magni organizes his De anima commentary on the pattern of John Buridan’s, utilising the same 44 question titles. He cites Buridan by name in every debate, interpreting and defending Buridan from different opponents. Bero has been cited as one of the first interpreters of Buridan (LUKÁŠ 2022, p. 301 n. 76; KLIMA 2023, p. viii n. 1). Bero’s work includes early formulations of Buridan’s Ass, Ockham’s Razor, and the Liar’s Paradox as a concept, “What I am thinking is false.” Bero mentions by name several other important figures, such as his near-contemporaries Marsilius of Inghen and Laurentius of Lindores.

Medieval Reception and Transmission

Only one manuscript is known: Heiligenkreuz, Stiftsbibliothek, Cod. 303 (GSELL 1891, 195; LOHR 1967, 380).

Another commentary on the De anima is found in the same Heiligenkreuz manuscript (ff. 229r–274v); it reads like a paraphrase or summary of Bero’s, or at least derives from the same milieu and with the same inspiration from John Buridan’s questions. It is anonymous, but earns an attribution to Master Thomas (perhaps Thomas Wölfel von Wuldersdorf, of the same faculty and time?), due to a first-person example on f. 259: “me surgente, non erit assensus; id est, tunc non assentit huic ‘Thomas sedet’.” Edition in preparation: Andrews, R. (ed.): Magister Thomas: Recapitulatio quaestionum De anima. Bibliotheca Philosophorum Suecorum Medii Aevi. Stockholm.

Disputata super libros Aristotelis de generatione et corruptione

Reportationes of lectures copied in 1441, 1442, and 1447.

Incipit

Est liber tertius in ordine librorum naturalium. Item dicitur respectu eius scientiae ‘ens mobile ad formam’ est subiectum. Prima primi. Et iste habet 24 quaestiones. Utrum ens mobile ad formam sit subiectum (Karlsruhe 130) / Circa libros De generatione et corruptione Aristotelis quaeritur primo utrum ens mobile ad formam sit subiectum (Klagenfurt 64) / Circa primum librum De generatione et corruptione quaeritur primo utrum ens mobile ad formam sit subiectum (Melk 884).

Explicit

In eo enim relucet infinitus vigor et potestas cui pro conservatione huius laboris sit honor, laus, et gloria per infinita secula seculorum. Amen.

Colophon

Karlsruhe 130 f. 120r: Et tantum de disputatis super libros Aristotelis De generatione et corruptione Reverendi Magistri Beronis de Ludosia, scriptis per Petrum de Voburgh pro tunc baccalarium in artibus, et finitis anno domini 1441 dominica die ante purificacionem Mariae, etc.

Klagenfurt 64 f. 123v: Deo dicamus gratias. Explicuit disputata De generatione et corruptione Reverendi Magistri Beronis de Ludosia per Michaelem de Novoforo anno domini 1442 feria tertia post festum conceptionis Beatae Virginis.

Melk 884 f. 330va: Et sic est finis huius. Expliciunt disputata Reuerendi Magistri Beronis de Ludosia super libros De generatione et corruptione feria secunda ante festum Cathedri Sancti Petri. Et illud fuit in die cineris anno domini 1447.

Size

Karlsruhe 130 ff. 118, Klagenfurt 64 ff. 126, Melk 884 ff. 130; 114,000 words; 411 pages in a modern edition.

Editions

Andrews, R. (ed.) forthcoming, Bero Magni de Ludosia: Quaestiones in libros De generatione et corruptione. Bibliotheca Philosophorum Suecorum Medii Aevi. Stockholm.

Summary of contents

Whereas Bero’s commentary on the De anima builds upon Buridan’s commentary on the same work, Bero’s De generatione takes as its basis the commentary by Marsilius de Inghen (1335/40–1396): Quaestiones super libris de generatione et corruptione (see Gesamtkatalog der Wiegendrucke, 7199–7201; https://www.gesamtkatalogderwiegendrucke.de/). Aristotle’s work describes how things of the world change; Bero Magni treats the same issues, but he also takes up ordinary puzzles and curiosities which seem to challenge philosophic theory, and even tries to explain what we now regard as superstitions. The text offers us much information about the intellectual life of a medieval Swede and his teaching at the University of Vienna.

Medieval Reception and Transmission

Three manuscripts are known containing reportationes copied in 1441, 1442 and 1447:

(1) Karlsruhe, Badische Landesbibliothek, Aug. 130, ff. 2r–120r, completed 1 Feb. 1441 (HOLDER 1971, 287–88; 720).

(2) Klagenfurt, Universitätsbibliothek, Cart.-Hs. 64, ff. 1r–126v, completed 11 Dec. 1442 (LOHR 1967, 380; MAIROLD 1980).

(3) Melk, Stiftsbibliothek, 884, ff. 200r–330v, completed 20 Feb. 1447.

Bero’s work influenced another anonymous commentary on De generatione completed in 1439, now in Germany, München, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, clm 19677, ff. 3r–94r. Many parallel passages and marginal annotations (such as on ff. 16r, “Incipe primam suppositionem in Berone”) are evidence of its dependence on Bero. It is likely also from the University of Vienna, because of its flattering mention in the colophon (f. 94r) of Albert II, Duke of Austria (died 27 October 1439), and the mention of the River Traun (“Truna,” f. 87r). Edition in preparation: Andrews, R. (ed.): Anonymus discipulus Beronis: Disputata super libros Aristotelis De generatione et corruptione. Bibliotheca Philosophorum Suecorum Medii Aevi. Stockholm.

Sermons and academic speeches

Two sermons and two academic speeches have come down to us. A brief analysis of Bero’s oratorical style is available in AILI 2011.

Christmas Day Sermon

This sermon ad clerum was held in St Stephen’s Cathedral on Christmas Day, 25 December 1444 as part of the requirements for the licentiate degree in theology.

Incipit

<V>erbum caro factum est scribitur originaliter Iohannis primo capitulo et in hodierne festivitatis celeberrime summi atque predignissimi officiorum transumptive per ecclesiam Dei sacro legitur evangelio

Explicit

verbum caro factum, quod in perfecte trinitatis unitate simplicissima coeternum Patri et Spiritui sancto consubstancialiter vivit et regnat unus Deus per infinita secula benedictus. Amen.

Colophon

Anno 1444. Explicit sermo in die nativitatis Domini factus ad clerum Wy<e>nne in ecclesia sancti Stephani per venerabilem magistrum Beronem sacre theologie bacalarium formatum.

Edition and translation

Kihlman, E., “Sermo in die Nativitatis Domini factus. 25.12.1444”, in GEJROT and KIHLMAN 2011, pp. 27–55.

Medieval Reception and Transmission

Preserved in one manuscript: St. Florian, Stiftsbibliothek, XI 115, fol. 273r–276r (CZERNY 1871, 54)

Good Friday Sermon

This sermon for Good Friday 1454 was held at the Collegium ducale of the University of Vienna. It is included in a comparative study on academic and popular preaching (see ANDERSSON 2011).

Incipit

Lacescente stomacho cunctisque admodum inanitus viribus et virtutibus

Explicit

Pro qua consumacione sit Ei cum Patre et Spiritu sancto – uni Deo – laus, honor, virtus, gloria, potestas et imperium per indefessa et immortalia seculorum secula benedicto. Amen.

Colophon

Iste sermo factus est Wyenne in aula collegii ducalis, anno etc. liiii:to in die Parasceves per magistrum Beronem de Ludosia.

Edition and translation

Gejrot, C., “Sermo in die Parasceves factus. 19.4.1454”, in GEJROT and KIHLMAN 2011, pp. 57–83.

Medieval Reception and Transmission

Preserved in two manuscripts: Wien, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, cod. 4533, fol. 187r– 191r, and Wien, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, cod. 4717, fol. 357r–361r (DENIS 1793–1795, col. 3211 and col. 94; TC III, 303 and 364).

Collation at the beginning of the disputation season

Incipit

A secundissimis Austrie ducum principibus inmortalis memorie, que aput Deum et homines nota est redolescencia flagrantibus

Explicit

rector infallibilis, per quem ‘translati sumus de morte ad vitam’ (vbi thema), Christus, omnium Dominus indefessa per eterna et immortalia seculorum secula benedictus! Amen.

Colophon

Hec collacio facta est Wienne in aula collegii ducalis anno etc. liiii:to, quinta die Julii per magistrum Beronem de Ludosia.

Edition and translation

Gejrot, C., “Collatio ante disputationum tempus facta. 5.7.1454”, in GEJROT and KIHLMAN 2011, pp. 85–103.

Medieval Reception and Transmission

Preserved in one manuscript: Wien, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, cod. 4533, fol. 191v–194v (DENIS 1793–1795, col. 3211; TC III, 303).

Collation made after the disputation season

This speech was held on 13 September 1454, at the end of the summer disputation exercises in the Collegium ducale at the University of Vienna.

Incipit

Ut finis principio correspondeat huius breuissime, quam hac pro vice facturus collaciunculam existo, verbis pro themate istis utar: In hoc cognovimus caritatem Dei

Explicit

confiteamur ei glorificantes et dicentes gloria tibi Domine laudabili glorioso et superexaltato per eterna indefessa et immortalia seculorum secula benedicto! Amen.

Colophon

Hec collacio facta est in aula collegii ducalis studio Wienne<n>sis in profesto exaltacionis sancte crucis, anno etc. liiii:to per magistrum Beronem de Ludosia.

Edition and translation

Gejrot, C., “Collatio post disputationum tempus facta. 13.9.1454”, in GEJROT and KIHLMAN 2011, pp. 105–119.

Medieval Reception and Transmission

Preserved in one manuscript: Wien, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, cod. 4533, fol. 195r–197r (DENIS 1793–1795, col. 3211; TC III, 303).

Commentaries on the Doctrinale

Two extant manuscripts transmit student reportationes of lectures on Book 1 of Alexander de Villa-Dei’s Doctrinale. Since there are no records of Bero lecturing on grammar in the official lists of lectures at the Faculty of Arts, these lectures were probably part of the extra-ordinary lecture series that were not registered by the faculty.

Lectures 1446

The reportationes from 1446 were taken down by the student Martin Tornator from Strasbourg, and derive from lectures by the teachers Bero, Schreck, and Pruck, all of whom are depicted in black and red ink by the scribe below the colophon. It is not possible to identify which parts of the commentary Bero is responsible for.

Incipit

Circa inicium prime partis allexandri mouetur primo Quid sit ars Pro quo notandum est quod iste terminus ars capitur dupliciter

Explicit

ut a fallo fallito a fodio fodito Et omnia verba imitatiue forme sunt prime coniugacionis neutra et abstracta et cetera et sic est finis.

Colophon

Expliciunt concepta prime partis alexandri reuerendorum magistrorum beronis schreck et pruck in studio weynensi alme vniuersitatis Scripta per me martinum tornatoris de argentina anno 1446 proxima feria 3a ante festum sancti io. baptiste de mane hora octaua et cetera.

Edition and translation

No editions or translations exist.

Medieval Reception and Transmission

Preserved in one manuscript: München, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, clm 26822, ff. 46–189v (HALM and MEYER 1881, 217).

(A similar commentary is found in München, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, clm 14686. ff. 1–155v. No mention of Bero seems to be made but the name ”Pruk” appears a number of times.)

Lectures 1449

Explicit

Vnde grecista uersus (?) at meditatiuum sit in urio dictum Sic parturio Et sic est finis conceptorum super prima parte allexandri referendi magistri beonis (sic) de leodosia (sic) wiennensis etc.

Colophon

Et finita est feria 4ta ante festum simonis et iude appostolorum etc. Anno domini mo 1449 per me petrum keller.

Edition and translation

No editions or translations exist.

Medieval Reception and Transmission

Preserved in one manuscript: Sion/Sitten, Archives de l’État du Valais, Archives du Chapitre de Sion, Ms 76, ff. 18r–164v (SCARPATETTI 1991, 125).

Verba communia

This grammatical treatise, preserved only in an early print, deals with the verbs classified as commune, i.e. verbs with a passive form but with both active and passive meaning. It comprises 111 hexameter lines of which 86 have been shown to be borrowings from other works. The authorship is discussed in the accompanying anonymous prologue, in which Bero’s name is suggested together with that of Marsilius of Inghen. In the likewise anonymous commentary, however, Bero is numerously referred to as the author. A brief study of the treatise is available in KIHLMAN 2025.

Incipit

Absque Deo nulla <in mundo> visio fit in evo

Explicit

Actum sive pati signare gerundia valent / atque supina: per hoc datur hiis oratio bina. / Finito libro sit laus et gloria Cristo.

Edition and translation

An edition and translation of the treatise are found as an appendix in KIHLMAN 2025, pp. 189–200.

Medieval Reception and Transmission

Preserved in print with a prologue and a commentary (both anonymous): Verba communia (Memmingen: Albrecht Kunne, 1487).

Bibliography

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