9th century
Feast: July 11
A Frankish nobleman who reformed Benedictine monasticism under Charlemagne and standardized monastic life across the empire.
Benedict of Aniane (747-821) left Charlemagne court to become a monk and reformer. He founded Aniane monastery and later worked with Emperor Louis the Pious to standardize all monasteries according to the Rule of St. Benedict, creating unified monastic observance across Europe.