Petronille de Chemillé

The Venerable Petronilla of Chemillé (died April 24, 1149) was a widow and the first abbess of the double monastery of Fontevrault in western France governing from 1115 to 1149.

Born Petronilla of Craon, she became a follower of Robert of Arbrissel. After Philippa of Toulouse persuaded her husband William IX, Duke of Aquitaine to grant him land for the foundation of an abbey, he left Hersende de Champagne and Petronilla in charge of monitoring the construction and organization. A year before his death, he named her first abbess.

References

• Guérin, Mgr Paul (ed.) - Vie des Saints, Vol. 5, p. 2. (Paris, 1876, 7th ed.).
• Laffont, Robert - "L'Abbaye De Fontevraud" p. 61. (Paris 2001)