The Latin letter which prefaces the "Evangelienbuch" indicates that he was taught at Fulda by Hrabanus Maurus, and this was mostly likely in the period 832–842. There is evidence that before going to Fulda he was one of the two scribes who spent time at the court of Louis the German when Grimald (abbot of Weissenburg, c. 825–839 and 847–872) was Louis' chancellor. After his return from Fulda, Otfrid acted as "magister scholae" at Weissenburg, responsible for the teaching of the novices.