Vincent of Beauvais
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Vincent of Beauvais (c. 1190-1264) was a French Dominican scholar best known for creating one of the largest and most ambitious encyclopedias of the Middle Ages.
His monumental work, the Speculum maius (Great Mirror), is a vast encyclopedia designed to reflect the entirety of human and divine knowledge. Originally composed of three parts Speculum naturale, Speculum doctrinale, and Speculum historial, it covers natural science, ethics, education, crafts, history, and theology. A fourth section, the Speculum morale, was added later by other authors.
The Speculum maius became one of the most influential reference works of the 13th century, widely copied and used in universities and monastic schools.