ANFREDUS GONTERI

Also known as Alfredus, Aufredus, or Gaufredus Gontier; Franciscan theologian, Doctor Providus ; b. c. 1270 in Brittany. He studied at Paris between 1302 and 1307, and while there was a disciple of duns scotus, whom he repeatedly calls "my master." A contemporary document records him, in 1303, as a signatory of an appeal to the council against Pope boniface viii in the latter's conflict with Philip the Fair. He twice commented on the Sentences, in 1322 at Barcelona and in 1325 at Paris, where he became a master in theology. There is no further information about his life.

Only Book 2 of his first commentary on the Sentences has been identified, while of his Paris commentary Books 1–3 are extant. In addition, there exists a Quaestio de paupertate Christi, written at Barcelona c. 1322 [Studi Francescani 33 (1936) 240–291]. His Quaestiones quodlibetales is cited by william of vaurouillon. Anfredus himself mentions his Quaestiones ordinariae and his Quaestiones disputatae de beatitudine, super IVm, but these have not been discovered.

Vaurouillon (In 4 sent. 45.1) calls Anfredus "an outstanding disciple of Scotus." He himself confesses in his commentary on the Sentences: "I am not quite willing to contradict the Doctor Subtilis," but in fact depends substantially on the anti-Scotist, henry of harclay, in the same work. In Anfredus's first book, the more than 200 questions utilize almost exclusively the first book of Harclay. His borrowings, here as in the second book, are for the most part as good as literal; even when he contests Harclay's opinions, he depends upon him in literary and technical matters. In addition there are indications that Anfredus utilized the first book of John of Reading. He often cites peter aureoli, as well as the work of a friend, a certain "Frater Franciscus"—probably Francis of Marchia or Francis of Meyronnes. (see scotism.)

Bibliography: j. duns scotus, Opera Omnia, ed. c. baliĆ (Vatican City 1956) 4:15*–28*. j. alfaro, "La Inmaculada Concepción en los escritos inéditos de un discipulo de Duns Escoto, Aufredo Gontier," Gregorianum 36 (1955) 590–617.

[a. emmen]