• Location
:
ANJOU, NW FRANCE
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version of the map
The abbey was founded in 1099 by Robert d'Arbrissel(1047-1117), who spent his early life as a preacher and had many followers. In 1119, Pope Calixtus II consecrated the cemetery and the east end on the main church, the church of Notre-Dame. Fontevrault was a "double house"- that is, a monastery and a nunnery within one complex, governed by an abbess. Both nuns and monks followed the Rule of St. Benedict. It was also the center of a monastic order that had as many as 75 houses.
Aristocratic ladies often retreated to Fontevrault, many banished from court, including discarded mistresses of kings. Several of the abbesses were of the royal house.
Copyright : Prof. Bruce Venarde, author of Robert of Arbrissel: A Medieval Religious Life, Catholic University Press of America, 2004
Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204) was queen to two kings and mother of two others. Her grandfather was Guillaume IX of Aquitaine (1070-1127), who was one of the first troubadours and a member of the First Crusade. His son Guillaume X was noted for having a brilliant court that was a major center of culture. Eleanor received an excellent education. In 1137, her father died, leaving her as heiress of the duchy of Aquitaine, the richest province in Southern France. Eleanor was married to Louis VII King of France in 1137 at age 15. A few years later Eleanor accompanied her husband on Second Crusade. In 1152 her marriage was annulled for consanguinity though the real reason was probably the incompatibility of personality- Eleanor was lively and educated, Louis was grave and pious. Also, their children had all been female. Eleanor soon married Henry of Anjou, who became King Henry II of England in 1154. Eleanor bore Henry five sons and three daughters. In 1169, disgusted by Henry's numerous infidelities, she set up her own court in Poitiers, which soon became a center of culture with many troubadours, musicians and scholars in residence. She backed her sons when they revolted against their father in 1173. On their defeat, she was imprisoned by Henry until his death in 1189. Eleanor's favorite son, Richard I Lionheart became king- he appreciated Eleanor's advice and named her as regent when he want on crusade. After Richard died in 1199, he was succeeded by his youngest brother, John Lackland (1166-1216). Eleanor retired in the abbey of Fontevrault where she died in 1204.
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CHURCH EXTERIOR |
CHURCH INTERIOR |
TOMBS |
FONTEVRAULT OTHER BUILDINGS |
FONTEVRAULT CLOISTER |
PLANS |
All text, images and computer code are copyrighted by Dr. Alison Stones except as noted above.
Last updated by: Jane Vadnal & Graham Whitlow, Date : June 22, 2004