Vincent of Beauvais

Vincent of Beauvais
Bornc. 1184/1194
Diedc. 1264
Other namesVincentius Bellovacensis, Vincentius Burgundus, Vincent de Beauvais
OccupationFriar
Known forAuthor/Compiler
Notable workThe Great Mirror (Speculum Maius)

Vincent of Beauvais (Latin: Vincentius Bellovacensis or Burgundus; French: Vincent de Beauvais; c.1184/1194  c. 1264) was a Dominican friar at the Cistercian monastery of Royaumont Abbey, France. He is known mostly for his Speculum Maius (Great mirror), a major work of compilation that was widely read in the Middle Ages. Often retroactively described as an encyclopedia or as a florilegium, his text exists as a core example of brief compendiums produced in medieval Europe.