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5. Fulcher, p.281.
6. de Hoveden II, p.394.
Chapter 19:
Fontevraud: Gift of the Crusaders
Not only did the Crusading movement give an impetus to religious life generally, in particular it led directly to the creation in France of a unique monastery for women, a foundation that was to be woven through the history of the crusades.
This was Fontevraud (Fontevrault) Abbey, which was to emerge in the forest near Chinon to become pre-eminent amongst religious houses for women. It was amongst the most notable examples of religious life in Europe reacting to the events of the Crusades.
The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud was founded Robert d'Abrissel, a Breton hermit, who was charged by Urban II with preaching the crusade around Maine in France. By 1099, his charismatic preaching had attracted hundreds of people wanting a combination of a life of good works and a cloistered existence.1
Instead of joining in the march on Jerusalem, Robert led his people to Fontevraud, which was then a wilderness. The group settled in the midst of a mighty forest in a pleasant valley watered by a gushing spring.
At first, they led a life of contemplation and prayers, living in caves and huts made from branches. The presence of women amongst the party, however, forced Robert to consider more permanent, large scale residences. With the aid of wealthy benefactors, Robert was able to commission the building of convents, self contained but conveniently close to each other and the central place of worship. One of these was called St Mary's, for nuns, and the other St Benedict, for the sick. The monks built for themselves a separate monastery, known as the Convent of St John.
The rule was strict: the nuns had to live in absolute silence and on a meat free diet, and to dress with lowered veils hiding the face.
Robert began the buildings in 1104, essentially in the new Gothic style. The roof consisted of four great cupolas resting on pendentives and upheld by tall pillars, the capitals finely wrought with leaves, fantastic figures and biblical themes. The chancel was consecrated by Pope Callixtus II in 1119. The work - which is solid and secure rather than experimental and bold - was completed by 1150, and has survived war and the cleansing of the Revolution.
Amongst its most striking surviving features are the great kitchens, an octagonal tower roofed in a peculiar scale fashion. Around the sides of the tower are holes topped by lantern turrets - the original chimney stacks. The vast interior measures some thirty meters by ten, and encloses enough room for six hearths, from which twenty flues wafted away the smoke.
A busy staff worked in these kitchens to provide food for four convents, as well as special dishes for banquets when there were royal or important visitors. Crowds of poor waited at the gates of the abbey for the distribution of surplus food as alms.
Most of the food was served in the nun's refectory, a separate building, where the abbess presided on feast days, supervising the eating of both spiritual and earthly food. While the nuns ate, readings from the Bible directed their thoughts to their special calling.
The new order that arose in this special combination of dwellings and people took the
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