AQUINAS

aquinas, thomas [thomas of aquin or aquino], (c. 1227-1274), scholastic philosopher, known as _doctor angelicus, doctor universalis_, was of noble descent, and nearly allied to several of the royal houses of europe. he was born in 1225 or 1227, at roccasecca, the castle of his father landulf, count of aquino, in the territories of naples. having received his elementary education at the monastery of monte cassino, he studied for six years at the university of naples, leaving it in his sixteenth year. while there he probably came under the influence of the dominicans, who were doing their utmost to enlist within their ranks the ablest young scholars of the age, for in spite of the opposition of his family, which was overcome only by the intervention of pope innocent