Ekkehard IV

Ekkehard IV (c. 980 – c. 1056) was a monk of the Abbey of Saint Gall and the author of the Casus sancti Galli and Liber Benedictionum.

According to the testimony in his "Chronicle" (especially in view of his statement that he had heard from eyewitnesses of the great conflagration at St. Gall in 937), the date of his birth is usually placed about 980; he died 21 October but the year of his death is unknown (1036?–1060?).

From him Ekkehard acquired a profound knowledge of the Latin and Greek classics; he also studied mathematics, astronomy, and music, and was acknowledged while living as a scholar of note even outside the monastery.

Shortly after his return to St. Gall, Abbot Tietbald died (1034) and Norbert of Stavelot, who introduced the reforms of Cluny, was elected to succeed him.

During the time of the Cluny controversy at St. Gall, Ekkehard began to work on the ancient abbey chronicle, the famous Casus S. Galli, begun by Ratpert and continued to Abbot Salomon (883), and carried it on from that date to Notker (972).