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Robert of Ketton

Robert of Ketton (also known as Robertus Ketenensis) was a 12th-century English scholar, priest, and one of the most important translators of Arabic scientific and religious texts into Latin during medieval Europe. He is best known for producing the first Latin translation of the Qur’an.

Key Facts about Robert of Ketton:
Origins and Education:

  • He was originally from Ketton, in Rutland, England.
  • Educated likely in France or northern Spain, he was fluent in Arabic, Latin, and possibly Hebrew.
  • He settled in Toledo, Spain, then a hub of translation and scholarship after its reconquest by Christians in 1085.

Major Contributions:
1. Translation of the Qur’an (1143):

  • Commissioned by Peter the Venerable, abbot of Cluny, who sought to understand Islam to refute it.
  • Robert produced the first complete Latin translation of the Qur’an, titled “Lex Mahumet pseudoprophete” (The Law of Muhammad the False Prophet).
  • The translation was not literal but paraphrastic, reflecting Christian polemical aims more than strict fidelity to the Arabic.

2. Scientific and Philosophical Works:

  • Robert also translated several astronomical, astrological, and mathematical texts from Arabic.
  • Notably, he translated parts of al-Khwārizmī’s works, which helped transmit algebra and astronomical tables to Europe.
  • Collaborated with Hermann of Carinthia, another key translator.

Historical Impact:

  • His Qur’an translation became the primary source for Christian Europe’s understanding of Islam for centuries.
  • His work was part of the Toledo School of Translators, which helped spark the 12th-century intellectual revival and ultimately the Renaissance.
  • Though not always accurate, his translations opened the door to Islamic science, philosophy, and theology in the Latin West.

Legacy:
Robert of Ketton’s legacy lies in his role as a bridge between the Islamic and Christian worlds. He did not simply translate; he interpreted Arabic texts through a Christian lens, shaping how Europe viewed Islam, both scientifically and theologically, for generations.