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Abbey of Saint-Evroul

Coordinates: 48°47′26″N 0°27′50″E / 48.79056°N 0.46389°E / 48.79056; 0.46389
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The Abbey of Saint-Evroul or Saint-Evroul-sur-Ouche (Saint-Evroult-sur-Ouche, Saint-Evroul-en-Ouche, Saint-Evroult-en-Ouche, Abbaye de Saint-Evroult, Sanctus Ebrulphus Uticensis [1]) is a former Benedictine abbey in Normandy, located in the present commune of Saint-Evroult-Notre-Dame-du-Bois, Orne, Normandy. It has been classified as a historical monument since 1967. Its name refers to its founder, Ebrulf (Evroul), who founded a hermitage in the forest of Ouche around 560. The abbey was rebuilt around 1000.

Robert de Grantmesnil served as abbot of Saint-Evroul, which he helped restore in 1050. He had become a monk at Saint-Evroul[2] before becoming its abbot.[3]

17th-century sketch of the Abbey of Saint Evroult (Monasticon Gallicanum)
Ruins of the abbey of Saint Evroult

Orderic Vitalis entered the abbey as a young boy and later wrote a history of the abbey.

Musical tradition

A manuscript from Saint-Evroul depicting King David on the lyre (or harp) in the middle of the back of the initial 'B'.

Normandy was the site of several important developments in the history of classical music in the 11th century. Fécamp Abbey and Saint-Evroul were centres of musical production and education. At Saint-Evroul, a tradition of singing had developed and the choir achieved fame in Normandy. After entering into a violent quarrel with William II of Normandy, Robert de Grantmesnil had been forced to flee to Rome in January 1061 and thence to the court of Robert Guiscard in Salerno, taking with him eleven of his monks, including his nephew Berengar. In his time, Saint-Evroul was famed for its musical programme and these eleven monks brought its musical traditions to the abbey of Sant'Eufemia (now part of the town of Lamezia Terme and different from Sant'Eufemia d'Aspromonte) in Calabria, a foundation of the Guiscards, of which Robert became abbot.[4]

Burials

Illustrious Members

List of Abbots

This incomplete list is compiled from the Gallia Christiana and the Normannia monastica

The abbey eventually fell to ruin, and was refounded first by monks from the abbey of Bec, before being occupied under the patronage of the de Grandmesnil family.

  • Theodoric (b. Thierry de Mathonville), 1050–1057
  • Robert de Grandmesnil 1059–1061; d. 1079 as abbot of Sainte-Euphémie, in Calabria after fleeing the wrath of William the Conqueror.
  • Osbern of Cormeilles 1061–1066; installed against the wishes of the monks of Saint-Evroul, on the advice of Hugh, bishop of Lisieux.
  • Mainier d'Échauffour 1066–1089; was abbot when Orderic Vitalis first arrived at the monastery, and was noted as an attendee at the funeral of William the Conqueror. Responsible for rebuilding much of the abbey and its grounds.
  • Serlon of Orgères 1089–1091; his abbacy was spent in conflict with Gilbert Maminot, Hugh's successor as bishop of Lisieux. Would leave the monastery to become bishop of Sées in 1091.
  • Roger of Le Sap 1091–1122; oversaw the consecration of the abbey church begun by Mainer.
  • Warin des Essarts 1123–1137
  • Richard of Leicester 1137–1140; attended the Second Lateran Council in 1139.
  • Renoulf 1140–1159; had been prior of Noyon.
  • Bernard 1159—1159; deposed for poor management of the abbey's finances.
  • Robert II of Blangy 1159–1177; originally from Bec.
  • Raoul of Sainte-Colombe 1177/8—1189
  • Richard II 1189–1190
  • Renaud 1190–1214; responsible for the translation of the remains of Saint Evroult, Saint Agilus, and Saint Ausbert of Rebais to the abbey.
  • Herbert 1217
  • Geoffroi 1218
  • Robert de Salmonville 1233
  • Nicholas 1247; who left to join the Carthusian order.
  • Richard of Val-Corjon 1269
  • Nicolas de Villiers 1274; abdicated his post.
  • William of Montpinçon 1281
  • Geoffroi of Girouart 1281–1303
  • Thomas of Douet-Artus 1309
  • Nicolas of Pont-Chardon 1316
  • Raoul Grant 1318; former prior of Ware in England.
  • Richard de Tiercelin 1334
  • Nicolas Hébert 1352
  • Elie Jean du Bois 1366
  • Philip the Breton 1392
  • Guillaume de Vergy 1392–1395; a commendatory abbot as archbishop of Besançon and a cardinal.
  • Robert le Tellier 1395–1408; former prior of Saint-Hymer, regular abbot.
  • Michel of Philippe 1439; former prior of Saint-Martin de Noyon
  • Robert the Apostle 1459
  • William de Seilleys 1466
  • Jacques of Espinasse 1484; last regular abbot of Saint-Evroult

The Commendatory Abbots

Notes

  1. ^ "Tertullian: Q. S. F. Tertullianus, All Works That Survive ed. Franz Oehler". www.tertullian.org. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  2. ^ Orderic Vitalis, Forester translation, vol. I, p, 400
  3. ^ Orderic Vitalis, Forester translation, vol. I, p, 422
  4. ^ Joranson, 390.

Secondary sources

48°47′26″N 0°27′50″E / 48.79056°N 0.46389°E / 48.79056; 0.46389

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