medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
From: "Ms Brenda M. Cook" <[log in to unmask]>
> There is also a Tunic of Christ in Argenteuil which was given to the
original nunnery by Charlemagne as part of the "dowry" for the daughter who
was the first abbess. IIRC Theodrada.
> It survived the French Revolution buried in the Presbytery garden and there
was as "Ostentation" some years ago.
what does it look like?
what is the Scientific Consensus regarding its date and provenance?
>However, this tunic purports to have been Christ's tunic when he was a child
and to have been woven for him by the Virgin Mary. So I suppose this, too is a
Marian relic as well.
> It had lain forgotten in the treasury (possibly as a result of the change in
occupation of 1127- Heloise + nuns OUT; Suger's henchman + monks IN - tho I
cannot help feeling that the lust to possess such a relic might have been yet
another element in Suger's greed)
well, that might be true, but certianly isn't the way St. Suger tells the
story.
here in a probably defective translation (with Latin following, should anyone
wish to offer corrections).
c
3.-The Recovery of the Abbey of Argenteuil.
When, as an adolescent student, I read the old charters in the archives
recording the abbey's possessions, as well as the books recording the
immunities (due to the numerous abuses and frauds being perpetrated), I often
came across the foundation charter of the monastery of Argenteuil by Hermenric
and his wife Numma. It was written there that, in the time of king Pepin, this
abbey belonged to St. Denis, but, due to a disadvantageous agreement, it was
alienated during the time of Pepin's son, Charlemagne. This emperor obtained
from the abbot and brothers the right to install there one of his daughters,
who had refused human marriage, as abbess of a convent. This was done on
condition that, on her death, the abbey would return to us. But, due to the
disturbances in the realm caused by the quarrels of the children of his son
Louis the Pious, this contract was not fulfilled.
Our predecessors had often studied the question, but without significant
results. This is why, in council with our brothers, we sent our messengers to
Rome with the old foundation and donation charters, and the confirmations to
the late Pope Honorius, asking him to examine our rights and reestablish them
canonically. Wise guardian of justice that he was he returned this place to
us, as much for the cause of justice as for the scandal caused by the evil
life which the nuns led there, and to restore religious order.
Moreover, King Louis, [son of] Philip, our dear lord and friend, confirmed
this restoration and, by the authority of the royal majesty, issued a charter
confirming all the regalian rights which he possessed there. Whoever wishes to
better understand the nature of this restoration will find more details in
these charters of the kings and the apostolic privileges. Those who study this
question will see the importance of this abbey and its dependencies: Trappes,
Elancourt, Chavenay, Bourdonné, Chérisy, the land of Montmélian, of Bondy,
of Montereau near Melun, and other lands.
The old rents of Argenteuil, which did not belong to the abbey, amounted to
£20 because it was of old no more than £20, and now it amounts to forty. In
grain, we once received six muids, but today get fifteen.
[On this episode, cf. Thomas G. Waldman, "Abbot Suger and the Nuns of
Argenteuil," Traditio XLI (1985): 239-272.]
3. - De recuperatione Argentoilensis abbatiĉ.
Cum etate docibili adolescentiĉ meĉ antiquas armarii possessionum
revolverem cartas, et immunitatum biblos propter multorum calumniatorum
improbitates frequentarem, crebro manibus occurrebat de cenobio Argentoilensi
fundationis carta ab Hermenrico et conjuge ejus Numma, in qua continebatur
quod a tempore Pipini regis beati Dyonisii abbatia extiterat. Sed quadam
occasione contractus incommodi, in tempore Karoli Magni filii ejus, alienata
fuerat. Prefatus enim imperator, ut quandam filiam suam matrimonium humanum
recusantem ibidem abbatissam sanctimonialium constitueret, eo pacto ut post
mortem ejus in usum ecelesiĉ reverteretur, ab abbate et fratribus obtinuerat.
Sed turbatione regni filiorum filii ejus, videlicet Ludovici Pii,
altercatione, quoadusque supervixerat, perfici non potuit.
Unde, cum antecessores nostri sepius super hoc laborantes parum
profecissent, communicato cum fratribus nostris consilio, nuncios nostros et
cartas antiquas fundationis et donationis et confirmationum privilegia bonĉ
memoriĉ papĉ Honorio Romam delegavimus, postulantes ut justitiam nostram
canonico investigaret et restitueret scrutinio. Qui, ut erat vir consilii et
justitiĉ tutor, tam pro nostra justitia quam pro enormitate monacharum ibidem
male viventium, eundem nobis locum cum appendiciis suis, ut reformaretur ibi
religionis ordo, restituit.
Rex vero Ludovicus [p. 66] Philippi, carissimus dominus et amicus noster,
eandem restitutionem confirmavit, et quecumque regalia ibidem habebat,
auctoritate regiĉ majestatis ecclesiĉ precepto firmavit. Cujus quidem
recuperationis tenorem si quis plenius nosse voluerit, in cartis regum et
privilegiis apostolicorum enueleatius poterit reperire. Cujus scilicet
abbatiĉ et appendiciorum ejus, quĉ sunt Trappe, Herencurtis, Chaveniacus,
Burdeniacus, Cerisiacus, et terra de Monte Meliano et Bunziaco, sive de
Mosteriolo quod est prope Milidunum, et aliorum incrementum quanti constet,
qui sapienter illa tractabunt pro magno prelati cognoscere poterunt.
De antiquo censu Argentoili, qui ad abbatiam non pertinet, incrementum est
viginti librarum: quia, cum olim non haberemus nisi viginti libras, modo XL
redduntur. De annona prius sex modios, modo XV recipimus.
Françoise Gasparri, ed. Les classiques de l'histoire de France au moyen age:
Suger. Oeuvres, tome I. Paris: Les Belles Lettres, 1996.
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