Hello everyone. As always, this information is found in An Encyclopedia of Tolkien the History and Mythology That Inspired Tolkien’s World by David Day. This post is about Alcuin of York (c. 735-804).
Day starts, “the Christian tutor and adviser to Charlemagne, King of the Franks and Holy Roman Emperor. His role is comparable to that of Gandalf as Aragorn’s mentor, counselor, and spiritual guide. Just as the Wizard Gandalf inspired Aragorn’s revival of the Reunited Kingdom of Arnor and Gondor, so the English churchman Alcuin was the driving force behind Charlemagne’s revival of the Roman Empire...”
He continues, “there is a deeper, theological connection between the two figures, however. Alcuin dared to remind Charlemagne that the emperor’s authority was only borrowed from God, advising him: “Do not think of yourself as a lord of the world, but as a steward.” Alcuin’s words may remind us of those of Gandalf to Denethor the Ruling Steward of Gondor: “For I am also a steward. Did you not know?” Both rise and fall of the petty kingdoms of the mortal humans...”
Lastly, “Gandalf the Wizard is the embodied form of the immortal Maia Olórin and his allegiance is to the Guardians is steward to Eru the One, as Alcuin was steward to his Christian God” (21).
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