Monastic Reform as Process

Steven Vanderputten

Description

The history of monastic institutions in the Middle Ages may at first appear remarkably uniform and predictable. Medieval commentators and modern scholars have observed how monasteries of the tenth to early twelfth centuries experienced long periods of stasis alternating with bursts of rapid development known as reforms. Charismatic leaders by sheer force of will, and by assiduously recruiting the support of the ecclesiastical and lay elites, pushed monasticism forward toward reform, remediating the inevitable decline of discipline and government in these institutions. A lack of concrete information on what happened at individual monasteries is not regarded as a significant problem, as long as there is the possibility to reconstruct the reformers' 'program.' While this general picture makes for a compelling narrative, it doesn't necessarily hold up when one looks closely at the history of specific institutions.In Monastic Reform as Process, Steven Vanderputten puts the history of monastic reform to the test by examining the evidence from seven monasteries in Flanders, one of the wealthiest principalities of northwestern Europe, between 900 and 1100. He finds that the reform of a monastery should be studied not as an "exogenous shock" but as an intentional blending of reformist ideals with existing structures and traditions. He also shows that reformist government was cumulative in nature, and many of the individual achievements and initiatives of reformist abbots were only possible because they built upon previous achievements. Rather than looking at reforms as "flashpoint events," we need to view them as processes worthy of study in their own right. Deeply researched and carefully argued, Monastic Reform as Process will be essential reading for scholars working on the history of monasteries more broadly as well as those studying the phenomenon of reform throughout history.

Sujets

• Histoire
• History of Europe
• Christianity
• 1500

Informations

• Publié par: Cornell University Press
• Date de parution: 15 novembre 2017
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780801468117
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

 MONASTIC REFORM AS PROCESS

Ivory plaque representing Saint John the Evangelist, made around the year 1000 by an Insular art- ist probably working at Saint-Bertin. Saint-Omer, Musée de l’hôtel Sandelin, inv. 2282. Copyright Musée de l’hôtel Sandelin de Saint-Omer. Reproduced with permission.

MONASTICREFORM AS PROCESS Rea l i t i e s a nd n Re pr e s e nta t i ons i n Me di e va l F la nde r s , 900–1100

Ste ve n Va n d e r p u t te n

CORNELLUNIVERSITYPRESS Ithaca and London

Copyright©2013byCornellUniversity

Allrightsreserved.Exceptforbriefquotationsinareview, this book, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Cornell University Press, Sage House, 512 East State Street, Ithaca, New York 14850.

Firstpublished2013byCornellUniversityPress

PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica

Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data Vanderputten, Steven.  Monastic reform as process : realities and representations in medieval Flanders, 900–1100 / Steven Vanderputten.  p. cm.  Includes bibliographical references and index.  ISBN 9780801451713 (cloth : alk. paper)  1. Monasticism and religious orders—France— Flanders—History—Middle Ages, 600–1500. 2. Monasticism and religious orders—Belgium— Flanders—History—Middle Ages, 600–1500. 3. Flanders (France)—Church history. 4. Flanders (Belgium)—Church history. I. Title.  BX2614.F55V36 2013  271.009493'109021—dc23 2012040273

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  Co nt e nt s

List of Illustrations vii Acknowledgmentsix Abbreviationsxi

Introduction 1. Corporate Memories of Reform 2. The “Failed” Reforms of the Tenth Century 3. The “Dark Age” of Flemish Monasticism 4. Introducing the New Monasticism 5. Processes of Reformist Government 6. Shaping Reformed Identities 7. The “Waning” of Reformed Monasticism  Conclusion

AppendixA:OverviewoftheLeadership of Benedictine Monasteries in Flanders Reformed in the Tenth and Early Eleventh Centuries between c. 900 and c. 1120 193

AppendixB:BooklistoftheAbbeyof Marchiennes, c. 1025–1050 203 Bibliography205 Index 235

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 I l lu s t r at i o n s

Ivory plaque representing Saint John the Evangelist, made around the year 1000 TheLotharingianMixedObservanceaccording to Hallinger ManuscriptofFolcuin’sLifeof Saint Folcuin Twopagesfromahagiographicmanuscriptproduced at SaintBertin Miniatureinahagiographicmanuscriptfromtheabbey of SaintBavo in Ghent Forged charter of Count Arnulf I of Flanders to the monks of SaintPeter in Ghent Twopagesfromamanuscriptrepresentingsaintslocally venerated at Marchiennes ScenerepresentingSaintEusebiainahagiographic manuscript from Marchiennes BurialsceneofSaintAmandinahagiographic manuscript from SaintAmand

Maps Benedictine institutions in the county of Flanders, c. 1000 PrincipalBenedictineinstitutionsinthecounty of Flanders, c. 1100

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  A c k n o w l e d g m e nt s

This book has a long history. In 2005, I was awarded a research professorship at Ghent University that enabled me to devote the majority of my time to researching and publishing on medieval monasticism. I am grateful to Ghent University’s Special Research Fund for this privileged position, initially for five years, then for another five start ing in 2010. In fall 2005, I spent three months as a visiting fellow at the School of Historical Studies of the Institute for Advanced Study in Prince ton, New Jersey. Conversations that I enjoyed there with Giles Constable, as well as his continued encouragement, strengthened my resolve to develop my interest in the subject of reform. I am also grateful for fellowships at the Forschungsstelle für Vergleichende Ordensgeschichte in Eichstätt (2008), the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences in Wassenaar (2009–2010), the Flemish Academic Center in Brus sels (2011–2012), and the Institute for Advanced Study at the University of Indiana at Bloomington (2012). Since 2010, Ghent University’s Special Research Fund and the Research Foundation–Flanders (FWO) have funded two separate projects under my supervision on the socalled Lotharingian reforms. Preparation for these projects helped me identify the historical and historiographical issues that are central to this book. Several colleagues devoted precious time to read, and comment on, previ ous versions of this book. Giles Constable, Brigitte Meijns, Tjamke Snijders, Helena Vanommeslaeghe,and Koen Vanheule all cast a critical yet sympathetic eye on the entire manuscript, offering encouragement as well as pointing out errors and unclear passages. Diane Reilly painstakingly combed through several chapters to find inconsistencies in the argument and other problems. I am also indebted to the two anonymous reviewers at Cornell University Press for their helpful suggestions. Other colleagues whose scientific advice and support, be it intellectual or moral, proved invaluable include, in no par ticular order, Barbara Rosenwein, Régine le Jan, Dominique IognaPrat, Gert Melville, Caroline Bynum, Richard Gameson, Alison Beach, Isabelle Rosé, Albert Derolez, Stephen White, Scott Bruce, Jörg Sonntag, AnneMarie

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