Æthelbert of York
Related to his predecessor at York, he became a monk at an early age and was in charge of the cathedral's library and school before becoming archbishop.[6] Æthelbert's family placed him in a monastery as a young child,[3] where he was a pupil in the school founded at York by Ecgbert.[6] Æthelbert was instrumental in forming a library at York,[7] which was probably the largest contemporary collection of books to be found in Europe outside of Rome.Alcuin mentions several Latin and Greek classical authors, as well as the Fathers and other Christian writers that formed the 8th century canon.Academic debate is split on whether it was next door to the pre-Norman Conquest cathedral, or whether it was elsewhere in the city, perhaps across the river Ouse: possible sites include Bishopshill, or Holy Trinity, Micklegate.[2][c] In 774, Æthelbert called a council which deposed Alhred the King of Northumbria and sent the ex-king north into exile with the Picts.