Abbot Oliba

Abbot Oliba
Statue of Oliba in Vic
Native name	Abat Oliba
Born	971
Died	1046
Occupation	Abbot, bishop, count
Known for	Spiritual founder of Catalonia

Oliba (IPA: [uˈɫiβə]) (c. 971–1046) was the count of Berga and Ripoll (998–1002), and later abbot of the monasteries of Santa Maria de Ripoll and Sant Miquel de Cuixà (1008–1046) and the bishop of Vic (1018–1046). He is considered one of the spiritual founders of Catalonia and perhaps the most important prelate of his age in the Iberian Peninsula. Oliba was a great writer and from his scriptorium at Ripoll flowed a ceaseless stream of works enlightening us about his world. Most importantly, however, are the Arabic manuscripts he translated into Latin for the benefit of all Europe.

Oliba was born circa 971 to an affluent family in the Spanish March. His father was Oliba Cabreta, the count of Besalú, Cerdanya, Berga, and Ripoll, and his mother was Ermengard of Empúries. His father's lineage made him the great-grandson of Wilfred the Hairy. Oliba had three brothers and a sister, and when his father chose to retire to a monastery in 988, his lands were divided among his three oldest sons; Bernard received Besalú, Wilfred received Cerdanya, and Oliba received Berga and Ripoll. In 1002, Oliba himself abdicated his secular possessions to his brothers - Wilfred receiving Berga and Bernard getting Ripoll - to take up the Benedictine habit at the Monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll.

Six years after joining the order, Oliba was named abbott at Santa Maria de Ripoll, and also at Sant Miquel de Cuixà shortly thereafter.